Travel company TUI has cancelled several UK flights as disruption hits airports across the UK.
Many airports have seen chaotic scenes in recent weeks due to staff shortages, and it's expected that the situation will get worse over this weekend with the arrival of the half-term holidays, reports Wales Online. easyJet has already confirmed the cancellation of more than 200 flights, including domestic flights connecting Newcastle to Bristol.
And now TUI has been forced to follow suit, cancelling a 'small number' of flights and seeing delays at Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester airport. Newcastle Airport, from which TUI operates direct flights to Spain, Turkey and Italy, among others, is operating flights as normal this afternoon (Saturday).
Read more: Which easyJet flights have been cancelled today and how to check if yours is still going ahead
The airline has also suspended its schedule to Sri Lanka until June 12 after the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) warned against all but essential travel to the country.
A TUI spokesperson told Sky News: "The half-term holidays are always incredibly busy. Unfortunately, due to various operational and supply chain issues a small number of flights have been delayed or cancelled.
"We would like to reassure customers that we are doing everything we can to minimise delays and will be in direct communication should their holiday be impacted. We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding during this time."
A spokeswoman for easyJet said: "We have taken the decision to make advance cancellations of around 24 Gatwick flights per day starting from tomorrow 28 May until 6 June. We are very sorry for the late notice of some of these cancellations and the inconvenience caused for customers booked on these flights.
"However, we believe this is necessary to provide reliable services over this busy period. Customers are being informed from today (Friday) and provided with the option to rebook their flight or receive a refund and can apply for compensation in line with regulations.
"Over the next week we will be operating around 1,700 flights per day, with around a quarter of these operating to and from Gatwick."
Elsewhere, families heading for half-term getaways and Liverpool supporters travelling to the Champions League final in Paris faced long queues both at UK airports and the Port of Dover. Thousands of fans descended on the Kent port to board cross-Channel ferries for this evening's match against Real Madrid.
Airline passengers were also stuck in lengthy quests at Manchester Stansted and Bristol. However, Newcastle Airport appears to have avoided the same levels of disruption.
Where are you going on holiday during the half-term break? Let us know!
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