As a result of staff shortages, security issues and flight delays, thousands of passengers have experienced travel chaos across Europe and America in recent weeks with signs that the situation could get worse in the summer months ahead.
Amsterdam’s Schiphol, Europe’s third-busiest airport, has been struggling to cope with overwhelming post-Covid demand, with queues spilling out beyond the terminals’ front doors. A shortage of security staff has meant travellers’ waiting times have increased significantly.
KLM even suspended ticket sales at the airport and airlines have been asked to cancel flights to decrease passenger numbers. As of 1 June, it was reported that Schiphol airport had 500 vacancies open in its security department alone.
Stockholm’s Arlanda airport has been facing a chronic lack of security staff, causing long passenger queues in recent weeks. The Swedish Parliament even asked Swedavia, the airport’s operator, to explain the situation to the public.
French Airports will be understaffed during summer (by up to 20% according to the country’s airport association), with Charles de Gaulle, the busiest, reporting disruptive delays since the beginning of May.
Meanwhile, hundreds of flights to and from the UK and Ireland have been cancelled in recent weeks, with easyJet, British Airways, Tui and Wizz Air all cancelling flights, mainly due to staffing issues.
Analysis of Google search data reveals that searches for ‘Cancel my flight’ surged 163% in the UK in the period 22 May-4 June 2022 – the highest level in a year. The last week of May – Jubilee weekend – saw staff shortages at airports result in huge delays and missed flights for many.
The data also reveals that searches for ‘refund my flight’ rose 137% since the chaos began.
“There is a shortage of personnel all over. But the number-one problem is the reliability of ground handling, with new processes and the need to check documents to some destinations,” Lufthansa chief operating officer Ola Hansson told Travel Weekly. “We tried to digitise as much as possible, but only 30% of passengers have already uploaded documents for travel. More than two-thirds do it at the airport. It takes time and space.”
The problem is not confined to Europe, it seems. In the US the Memorial Day weekend proved a stiff test for the airline industry, with carriers cancelling 2,800 departures over just five days. Delta alone cancelled 800 flights and, on 2 June, over 1,430 US flights were cancelled, mostly by American, United and Southwest.
Although staff recruitment drives are underway, many former airline and ground handling staff have gone on to find roles elsewhere, often with better pay, and new recruits require training and security clearance ,which can take time.
Advice for air travellers to ensure better preparation if faced with cancellations and flight postponements include:
- Purchase travel insurance
- Be prepared for eventualities such as having to spend extra days stuck abroad
- Research your passenger rights.
