EasyJet have cancelled 200 flights over the weekend, due to Covid staff sickness issues, with Edinburgh Airport being included in the list.
Two flights out of the capital have had to be withdrawn today, April 4, as well as another 60 out of the UK, as a higher amount of Covid staff shortages have made it impossible to run a normal service.
This comes just days after Edinburgh Airport chiefs warned of possible delays in the coming weeks, as the pandemic shows no signs of easing the troubles that large companies are faced with.
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The airline said it had tried to offset the problem but deploying standby crew, but were ultimately forced "to make some cancellations in advance." It comes amid rising demand for travel as the Easter school holidays begin.
Huge queues at airports around the UK, including Edinburgh, have been pictured on social media in recent weeks, as they prepare for an onslaught of holidaymakers.
EasyJet, one of Europe's biggest airlines, said the cancellations were a small part of its schedule on Monday, which is around 1,645 flights.
A spokesperson for the airline said: "As a result of the current high rates of Covid infections across Europe, like all businesses, easyJet is experiencing higher than usual levels of employee sickness.
"Unfortunately it has been necessary to make some additional cancellations for today and tomorrow. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."
They also said affected customers had been contacted and could rebook on alternative flights or receive a voucher or refund.
On March 31, Edinburgh Airport warned travellers that they may face disruption this summer and that they are operating with significantly less staff than usual.
Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: "The return of passengers to Edinburgh Airport is both exciting for the team here but challenging at the same time. During the pandemic, we lost many valued colleagues and our recruitment campaign to employ 1,000 people across the airport has been underway since the end of 2021.
"Not all of those additional people will be in place as quickly as we would like and therefore it is inevitable there will be some queues and disruption as the recovery begins and we take the first steps to normality.
"As we do that, we are grateful to passengers for their patience and understanding and ask that they allow themselves to carefully plan and understand what they need to do before they get here. We all want to put on as good a service as we can and will be working hard to do that, drafting in people from across the airport to support passengers and ensuring people have everything they need to get through the airport quickly and comfortably."
Edinburgh Airport confirmed that two flights from the capital have been cancelled today.
EasyJet have been approached for comment.
