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There were already chaotic scenes at many British airports during the Easter holidays and another week of school holidays in early June
Photo: Luke MacGregor/ REUTERS
In order to deal with the chaos in British air traffic, the British government is relaxing the regulations for take-off and landing rights at airports just before the peak travel season.
This is to ensure that airlines such as British Airways do not have to cancel their connections at the last minute.
As in Germany, airlines and airports are complaining about too few staff: numerous jobs had been cut due to the effects of the corona pandemic.
Now there is a shortage of workers - just at the time when many people want to travel again.
Airlines can now cancel connections and do without the so-called slots without having to fear losing these expensive take-off rights.
This is intended to enable a "more realistic" flight plan.
However, the airlines must announce their cancellations by next Friday.
The “slot amnesty” does not apply to flights that are canceled afterwards.
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British Airways welcomed the government's action.
This allows the airline to offer customers the necessary security and protect flights to popular holiday destinations, a company spokeswoman said.
The UK's largest airport, London Heathrow, made a similar statement.
There were already chaotic scenes at many British airports during the Easter holidays and another week of school holidays in early June.
Finally the images repeated themselves.
Several connections were canceled at Heathrow last week because there were no staff to handle the flights.
A strike is also imminent.
British Airways workers are asking for a 10% pay increase.
nile/dpa
