London’s Heathrow airport says its new daily departure passenger cap has eased travel chaos. This comes as the airport reports it has handled 100,000 passengers a day for the first 10 days of the UK summer holidays. Heathrow says this was its busiest time since Christmas 2019. Most passengers were travelling to New York, Los Angeles, or Dubai. In response, British Airways temporarily suspended short-haul flight sales. The airport also said it is reviewing its ground handling and has imposed a passenger cap for two months.
Heathrow imposes two-month daily departure passenger cap
London’s Heathrow airport has announced a 100,000 daily departure passenger cap to help ease the travel chaos. Heathrow has warned that the new cap will only temporarily ease the current problems, but it could also lead to further disruption. In addition to the cap, Heathrow has cancelled more than 60 flights due to insufficient capacity. However, the airline industry is still recovering from a wave of layoffs caused by the Covid virus.
The airport’s chief executive has said the influx of passengers has led to delays and long queues at the airport. A Government scheme has also helped airlines cancel flights in the summer when they would not lose valuable slots. Although some airlines have acted significantly, others have not. The number of passengers who have been stranded is expected to rise significantly in the coming months.
British Airways temporarily suspends short-haul flight sales
The UK’s biggest airport has been hit by disruption and delays in recent months. As a result, British Airways temporarily suspended short-haul flight sales at Heathrow airport. This suspension will affect all flights between August 15 and Sept. 11 as the airline faces potential pilot strikes. Despite this, BA is still offering more flexibility when re-booking flights and even offers free re-booking for short-haul fliers.
The flight ban was originally planned to last until August 8, but British Airways has extended it to August 15. This move was necessary due to the ongoing Heathrow flight cap, which has caused an unprecedented amount of travel disruptions. Heathrow has a staffing shortage, and the temporary suspension will allow the airline to meet its quotas for short-haul flights. Passengers who have already booked flights will not be affected by the ban.
Heathrow says it is reviewing ground handling
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Heathrow airport has introduced a daily passenger cap of 100,000 to help reduce the chaos of flying. This cap has already helped cut down on last-minute cancellations, lost luggage, and delays, and has increased reliability. The new limit is effective until Sept. 11. It is the only way to control the number of people arriving at Heathrow Airport.
The airport is reducing the number of passengers that can depart each day and has recommended that airlines halt sales of new summer tickets until September. While this cap hasn’t been very effective in reducing chaos on the airport floor, it has helped ease travel chaos by providing a buffer for airlines. Heathrow’s restrictions follow similar measures at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and London’s Gatwick Airport.