- Airlines including EasyJet are canceling more flights in and out of UK airports.
- Airports are also reporting long lines of passengers as they grapple with ongoing staff shortages.
- The cancelations come as passenger numbers increase ahead of the UK's bank holiday weekend.
Airlines are cancelling a several flights in and out of the UK amid ongoing staff shortages and a rebound in travel as people seek to take vacations over this week's national bank holiday.
European airline EasyJet trimmed its flight schedule by over 200 flights on Friday, including more than 24 flights per day from London's Gatwick Airport. The cutbacks will affect flights over a 10-day period from May 28 to June 6.
"We are very sorry for the late notice of some of these cancelations and inconvenience caused for customers booked on these flights however we believe this is necessary to provide reliable services over this busy period," EasyJet said in a statement.
"Customers have been informed in advance and provided with the option to rebook their flight or receive a refund and can apply for compensation in line with regulation," the statement continued.
Flight cancelations from the UK's main travel hubs come amid ongoing staff shortages and pent-up demand for travel as more people seek to book flights ahead of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee UK bank holiday weekend.
Gatwick Airport reported a surge in passengers on Friday with more than 800 scheduled flights and 120,000 passengers, the highest on record since the start of the pandemic, Bloomberg reported. Gatwick had 800 flights scheduled on Monday, with six cancellations, a spokesperson for the airport confirmed to Insider.
After cutting back on staff levels when travel plummeted in 2020, airlines have struggled to recruit the workers needed to accommodate the rebound in demand.
German travel company TUI also announced a number of flight cancellations from UK airports over the weekend, multiple outlets reported. Other UK airlines, including British Airways, previously slashed flight schedules due to staff shortages.
In a statement, BA said its partner airline Finnair would be operating a number of European flights this summer as the airline continues to "rebuild" its operation.
Staff shortfalls are also causing delays on the ground in the UK. Manchester Airport reported delays at check-in and baggage reclaim on Sunday.
Shortages are also hitting airports outside the UK. Dublin Airport grappled with long lines for security on Sunday, as around 1,000 passengers missed their flights amid a lack of staff and growing passenger numbers, The Irish Times reported, citing a spokesperson for the Dublin Airport Authority. The Dublin Airport Authority did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
Airports in the US also reported delays as a result of staff shortages and a high volume of traffic. More than 1,000 flights were cancelled in the US ahead of Memorial Day weekend, affecting mainly passengers in LaGuardia in New York and Newark Liberty International airports.
