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That article also goes on to say:
He said some "critical functions" are "significantly under-resourced", especially ground handlers, who are contracted by airlines to provide check-in staff, load and unload bags and turn around aircraft.
Sounds like that's an element completely under the control of the airlines. Not sure that will wash, someone will challenge it I suspect.
He said some "critical functions" are "significantly under-resourced", especially ground handlers, who are contracted by airlines to provide check-in staff, load and unload bags and turn around aircraft.
Sounds like that's an element completely under the control of the airlines. Not sure that will wash, someone will challenge it I suspect.
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We recognise that this will mean some summer journeys will either be moved to another day, another airport or be cancelled and we apologise to those whose travel plans are affected.
Not just prospective pax - those who have paid money already might be hit.
Not just prospective pax - those who have paid money already might be hit.
I have noticed today that, looking to book BA London to LAX in August-September, they have zeroed out all economy availability. I'm well aware of the booking trends for such a routing, and the typical curve of bookings would by no means have them fully sold out for every day 6 weeks ahead. They are now running three times a day on the route, which is up at pre-Covid levels.
For anyone with tickets who gets cancelled, nowadays this is far more of a nuisance than before, with various organisations having followed the airline trend with non-refundable charges bought in advance. Hotels are really into this, but also major USA attractions, and it's even creeping into car rental, who never used to do it. Quite what liability an airline has when cancelling their part of an overall trip like this is unclear, it's bad enough trying to get an airline to refund their own part.
For anyone with tickets who gets cancelled, nowadays this is far more of a nuisance than before, with various organisations having followed the airline trend with non-refundable charges bought in advance. Hotels are really into this, but also major USA attractions, and it's even creeping into car rental, who never used to do it. Quite what liability an airline has when cancelling their part of an overall trip like this is unclear, it's bad enough trying to get an airline to refund their own part.
Last edited by WHBM; 12th Jul 2022 at 16:29.
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If it's anything like the times when flow restrictions are introduced, eg arrival rate reductions in bad weather, BA cheerfully cancel scads of short-haul, including most or all of their domestic operation, while everyone else carries on as normal, likewise the BA long-haul ops.
Looking at recent weeks' BA flight cancellation announcements, much the same seems to be happening.
Looking at recent weeks' BA flight cancellation announcements, much the same seems to be happening.
It is being reported that LHR wants to cap pax at 100,000 per day. That's 36.5m per annum, or roughly half what LHR was handling pre-Covid.
That's an astonishing reduction/admission of failure.
That's an astonishing reduction/admission of failure.
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I understood that to be 100,000 departing pax, which is a lot closer to the pre-covid average over the year, but well down when considering it’s the busiest time of the year.
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Arrived into LHR last week with the flight operating cabin baggage only announced 24h beforehand, necessitating the dumping of our suitcase and a few possessions. So even if flights appear on the board it doesn’t mean they are operating normally.
"Our assessment is that the maximum number of daily departing passengers that airlines, airline ground handlers and the airport can collectively serve over the summer is no more than 100,000."
If we are not careful the Greens will leap at this and demand, like their mates at Amsterdam, that it is made permanent.
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Emirates fuming at Heathrow Airport's "cavalier attitude"
Emirates slams ‘incompetent’ London Heathrow ‘airmageddon’ (travelmole.com)“LHR management team are cavalier about travellers and their airline customers.”
LHR chose not to act, not to plan, not invest. Now faced with an ‘airmageddon’ situation due to their incompetence and non-action, they are pushing entire burden – of costs and the scramble to sort the mess – to airlines and travellers.”
Emirates slams ‘incompetent’ London Heathrow ‘airmageddon’ (travelmole.com)“LHR management team are cavalier about travellers and their airline customers.”
LHR chose not to act, not to plan, not invest. Now faced with an ‘airmageddon’ situation due to their incompetence and non-action, they are pushing entire burden – of costs and the scramble to sort the mess – to airlines and travellers.”
Not pulling any punches
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62163254
Emirates said its ground handling and catering staff were "fully ready and capable" of handling its scheduled flights, claiming the "crux of the issue lies with the central services and systems which are the responsibility of the airport operator". "They are pushing the entire burden - of costs and the scramble to sort the mess - to airlines and travellers," its statement said. "All the signals of a strong travel rebound were there." The airline said that as international travel had recovered over the past year, it had rehired and trained 1,000 pilots. The carrier also said it seen "regularly high seat loads" so "our operational requirements cannot be a surprise to the airport".
It said rebooking passengers was "impossible" with all of its flights at full capacity over the next few weeks, which included services at other London airports and on other airlines.
It said rebooking passengers was "impossible" with all of its flights at full capacity over the next few weeks, which included services at other London airports and on other airlines.
Is Lord Deighton still chairman of Heathrow ? Conservative politician in the Lords.
Grant Shapps as Transport Secretary presumably said to him "Hey, Deighton, old chap, I'm occupied with far more important stuff standing for leader of the party, and all the civil servants in The Department and at the CAA know it so will do blow all in the meantime.. Do something which looks good in the press. Something which can be summarised in one paragraph in the media."
Deighton to Holland-Kaye : "C'mon, this is boring stuff for me, these aeroplane things. Do something pronto otherwise your chances for an OBE are out of the window and Mrs Holland-Kaye will never get the chance to wear a fancy hat at The Palace and meet The Queen".
Holland-Kaye : "Um ... er ... oh my God. Tell 'em all to cut passengers by 10%. My, that was a difficult decision. If they argue, tell them it's against the law. Doesn't matter that it's not, the media will never notice the difference."
Heathrow ops : "What about the passengers booked ?".
All the above : "Who gives an F...".
Grant Shapps as Transport Secretary presumably said to him "Hey, Deighton, old chap, I'm occupied with far more important stuff standing for leader of the party, and all the civil servants in The Department and at the CAA know it so will do blow all in the meantime.. Do something which looks good in the press. Something which can be summarised in one paragraph in the media."
Deighton to Holland-Kaye : "C'mon, this is boring stuff for me, these aeroplane things. Do something pronto otherwise your chances for an OBE are out of the window and Mrs Holland-Kaye will never get the chance to wear a fancy hat at The Palace and meet The Queen".
Holland-Kaye : "Um ... er ... oh my God. Tell 'em all to cut passengers by 10%. My, that was a difficult decision. If they argue, tell them it's against the law. Doesn't matter that it's not, the media will never notice the difference."
Heathrow ops : "What about the passengers booked ?".
All the above : "Who gives an F...".
Interesting article about a spat between Willie Walsh (ex-BA) and Sir Nigel Rudd (ex-Heathrow) about each blaming the other for current difficulties
'Slasher' Walsh vs Razor Rudd in bitter battle of the air barons: Ex-British Airways boss and City grandee trade blows in fierce clash over travel chaos (msn.com)
'Slasher' Walsh vs Razor Rudd in bitter battle of the air barons: Ex-British Airways boss and City grandee trade blows in fierce clash over travel chaos (msn.com)
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If the issue is solely a lack of airline ground handling staff then why impose a blanket cap across all airlines?
If an airline is able to attest it has sufficient resources then why should it be penalised for the failings of their rivals?
If an airline is able to attest it has sufficient resources then why should it be penalised for the failings of their rivals?