2% of EasyJet's summer flights are cancelled due to traffic issues

EasyJet cut 2% of its summer flight schedule, disrupting 180,000 customers' travel plans, and blamed the move on problems with air traffic control in Europe.

The travel sector is on high alert for disruptions this summer after last year's peak travel season in Europe was marred by cancellations, which created havoc at airports because there was not enough staff to handle the industry's swift recovery in demand following the pandemic.

Eurocontrol, which oversees the management of European airspace, has issued warnings that air traffic control problems are expected to be the weak point this summer.

The largest airline in the UK by passenger volume, EasyJet, stated on Monday that by implementing alterations early, it would be able to prevent last-minute cancellations, which were more expensive and inconvenient for passengers.

The airline claimed to have a sufficient number of personnel and pilots, but due to concerns about air traffic, 1,700 of the 90,000 flights scheduled for the remainder of July and August had to be cancelled, the majority of which originated from its largest base at London's Gatwick airport.

As it had mostly combined flights with several frequencies, it claimed that 95% of the impacted customers had already been rebooked on an alternate route.

The conflict in Ukraine has reduced aircraft capacity in Europe's airspace, and personnel shortages at certain air traffic control places and industrial action are creating congestion that increases the likelihood of last-minute cancellations.

(Sources: investing.com, reuters.com)