Airline Tui announced plans on Tuesday to cancel more than 180 flights from Manchester Airport until the end of next month as travel chaos continues in the UK.
Tui said it plans to cut six flights a day from May 31 until June 30, adding to the chaos passengers face at airports this week as they contend with long lines of passengers. waiting and flights canceled by other carriers. The airline, which had already announced flight cancellations and delays last weekend, blamed “the continued disruption to its operations in Manchester” for the “incredibly difficult decision” to cancel 43 flights a week. Manchester Airport said it was “disappointed” to see travellers’ holiday plans disrupted by the move, which it attributed to understaffing at Tui and its ground handling provider, Swissport, which handles check-in and baggage.
UK Transport Minister Andrew Stephenson said on Tuesday the government was working to minimize disruption to travelers who reported major delays at Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester airports.
Speaking on Sky News, he noted that the travel industry had months to recruit staff and should have been better prepared for a surge in passengers following the pandemic.