This morning, Heathrow was thrown into “absolute pandemonium” after forcing airlines to reschedule or cancel dozens of flights, upsetting the travel plans of thousands of customers.
The west London airport, in a rare “schedule intervention,” instructed its 20 largest carriers Wednesday night to reschedule 30 flights from the morning peak because the busy travel hub could not handle the large number of passengers in its terminals.
It indicates that at least 5,000 travelers discovered this morning that their flights had been impacted or even cancelled, and many of them vented their annoyance on social media.
One Twitter user wrote: “Total pandemonium at Heathrow this morning. BA flights cancelled and zero customer service!”
A different person called Terminal 5 a “disgraceful shambles” and added, “Left home at 3.30am, checked flight, cancelled on arrival.”
The problems seem to have started overnight, as singer-songwriter Stacey Jackson reported having to wait at least two hours on the tarmac after landing because the airport had ‘closed’ before being informed they would have to wait until the morning to disembark because there was ‘no staff’ in the airport.
Two hours on the tarmac waiting for a gate, no baggage handlers therefore no bags, fatigued travelers and kids… s**t show!, she tweeted.
It comes after months of tumultuous situations at airports around the nation brought on by severe personnel shortages, an enormous rise in demand, and the end of the Covid epidemic.
Heathrow first saw mayhem in March as employers battled to fill open positions due to a severe labor shortage in Britain.
Additionally, the issue could become worse as British Airway employees threaten to walk out after unions rejected a 10% salary increase in favor of walkouts as soon as next month, possibly throughout the summer.
A spokesman for the airport said today, “We are anticipating more passengers during the morning peak than the airport is currently able to handle.
Therefore, to keep everyone safe, we have asked airlines to cut 30 flights from the morning peak.”
“We apologize for the impact this has on travel plans, but we will work with airlines to get affected passengers rebooked on other flights outside of the peak so that as many as possible can get away tomorrow.”
Depending on how many customers they can swiftly reroute, airlines may now be saddled with substantial compensation costs.
In accordance with EU 261 regulation, airlines are required to seek out alternatives for customers, including those offered by competitors.
Passengers who reach their destination more than two hours late are eligible to reimbursement.
Although most airlines will book you on another flight to the same destination, the Civil Aviation Authority stated: “If an alternative airline is flying there significantly sooner or other suitable modes of transport are available, then you may have the right to be booked on that alternative transport instead.”
According to a Heathrow source, airlines that have contracts with passengers are required to make the compensation payments before “taking up the matter” with the airport.
Birmingham Airport reported excruciatingly long lines this morning as sun-starved Britons sought to leave for a summer vacation.
According to one, it was a “f*****g nightmare,” while according to another, there were lines that extended “all the way back to arrivals.”