Strict restrictions on the number of flights operating out of the UK's biggest airport are expected to continue until after the October half-term holiday, it has emerged. Heathrow Airport has told airlines it must retain limits until October 29 because of staff shortages and absences, including Covid, a national newspaper reported.
Heathrow last week imposed the daily cap of 100,000 passengers to alleviate issues created by staff shortages and other problems with the restriction lasting until September 11. However, Heathrow plans further reductions in services from its pre-pandemic levels of 1,350 flights a day.
Reports stated aircraft movements will be curtailed to 1,100 until August 31; 1,150 from September 1 to September 30; and 1,200 from October 1 to October 29. However, chairman of Heathrow Lord Paul Deighton criticised airlines for failing to employ enough baggage handlers.
Lord Paul Deighton wrote in the Telegraph: “For months we have been asking airlines to keep their ground handling resource in balance with demand. In the last few weeks, we have seen a shocking increase in planes departing without bags and passengers having their flights cancelled after they were already onboard.
“That’s why we stepped in and implemented a cap on departing passengers – just like Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Gatwick and many other airports around the world. This is the time when we should be investing to rebuild capacity as fast as possible so that we can give passengers the easy, quick and reliable journeys they deserve and are paying for.”
Travel expert Paul Charles, chief executive of the PC Agency, posted on Twitter: “Would you believe it? After criticising airlines for not having enough staff, @HeathrowAirport admits restrictions on flights are to continue until at least October half-term says @Telegraph – looks more like the airport is in turmoil to me.”
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