THE SNP has blamed the UK Government for causing travel chaos by failing to plug the Brexit labour shortage.
Travel expert Simon Calder has said the travel chaos at airports such as Glasgow and Edinburgh is largely due to the significant staff shortages that were created when many Europeans left the UK - and its aviation industry - after the UK left the EU.
Yet just days ago the UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps rejected a request by the aviation industry to allow them to recruit workers from overseas and blamed the sector for the current issues.
This week, travel experts issued fresh warnings that the chaos could last up to 18 months.
SNP MP Gavin Newlands, the party's transport spokesperson at Westminster, said the only way to protect Scotland's travel industry is through gaining independence.
He said: “It is the height of arrogance for the UK Tory Government to blame the aviation industry for issues it largely caused with its disastrous Brexit deal and issues which they were warned about.
“Unions said in January that this would happen and the SNP has been warning of this exact scenario for more than two years, but the UK Government refused to listen.
“The UK Government has had multiple opportunities to take action to plug the labour shortages it created and it has refused to do so at every turn, with the rejection of the aviation industry’s request to grant special immigration visas for overseas workers being the latest in a long list.
“It is clear the Westminster Government won’t take the action needed to support our vital travel industry.
"Independence is the only route back to the EU and vital labour for Scotland, and the only way to protect our travel industry.”
As many people head abroad for the first time since the pandemic, airports across the UK have seen significant delays to check-in and baggage reclaim areas.
Edinburgh Airport issued a warning to passengers last week about longer than normal queues at security but has this week reported it is "flowing well".
On Twitter, Edinburgh Airport said on Friday morning: "As of a few minutes ago, the time to get through security from first joining the queue was 1-20 minutes.
"Security is flowing well, but please remember to prepare in advance."
