Six ways to have a stress-free holiday as strikes threaten to ruin summer

HOLIDAYMAKERS are facing chaos at the airports and in the skies before the great summer getaway has even started.

EasyJet has cancelled 1,700 flights between July and September — affecting up to 180,000 customers.

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While some 95 per cent are rebooked on alternative flights, thousands have been left scrambling to reorganise longed-for trips.

So could this be just the start of a second year of summer chaos at our airports?

There are reasons to be concerned.

Only days ago, Eurocontrol, which manages European airspace, warned demand from airlines might get “close to capacity” for air traffic control in large parts of Europe, including London.

Fridays and weekends are the days most at risk of disruption.

The ATC restrictions are due to strikes across Europe, staff shortages and the closure of airspace because of the war in Ukraine meaning ever-more congested skies.

Yesterday, easyJet cancelled a further 350 flights arriving or departing from Portugal between July 21 and 25 because of planned strike action by Portuguese cabin crew.

Rival low-cost airline Ryanair has been railing against the wildcat strikes by French ATC staff that have seen more than 4,000 flights axed so far this year.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said: “The vast majority of these cancelled flights are overflights that fly through French airspace but are not landing in France.

“If French ATC staff go on strike, it should be French domestic flights that get cancelled.

“They have alternatives. The French can take the TGV, they can take the motorways.

“But people flying across France are having their flights unnecessarily cancelled because the European Commission will not take action.”

Julia Lo Bue-Said, head of travel agent giant Advantage Travel, said: “Hearing your flight has been cancelled will be devastating news for all those who have made their summer travel plans and are beginning to get excited about their holidays.

‘Devastating news’

“It’s essential airlines do all they can to ensure that there is as little disruption to travellers as possible.”

With so much out of the control of the travelling public, the best we can do is keep abreast, as much as possible, with potential strike action.

Make sure you have downloaded your airline’s app, regularly check your airport’s website for news and make sure that all your contact details are up to date, so they can contact you easily should the worst happen.

Make sure you’ve got good travel insurance.

If you have an existing policy, check what you could claim for if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

Know your rights if flight is axed

EASYJET has preemptively cancelled thousands of flights.

Anyone affected is entitled to either a refund or to be rebooked on to an alternative plane.

As easyJet has cancelled these more than two weeks in advance, there is no compensation due.

However, if an airline cancels a flight and there are no exceptional circumstances, you are entitled to an alternative flight as close to your original – with another airline if necessary – or a refund.

You are also entitled to compensation, from £220 for short-haul flights, £250 for mid-haul flights and £520 for long-haul flights, as long as you are flying from a UK or EU airport.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled this summer and the reason is out of your airline’s control, then you are still entitled to food and drink vouchers if the delay is significant, as well as being offered alternative flights or a refund.

You can check out all your rights when flying by visiting the Civil Aviation Authority’s website at caa.co.uk.