The war between the UK Government, airports and airlines has ramped up a notch as the Minister for Transport has warned airlines not to “over promise” and “under deliver”.
Minister Courts branded the recent travel disruption “unacceptable”, placing the majority share of blame on airlines while failing to address the Government’s failing during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Courts made the comments during a visit to Luton airport where he checked in on easyJet “to see what they’re doing to make sure their staffing and schedules are ready for the summer”.
“After two years of travel restrictions, millions of people are waiting to go on their well-deserved holidays,” said Courts. “And while many airports and airlines are delivering to their usual high standards, the disruption we’ve seen recently is unacceptable.
“Airlines should only be offering for sale those services they can reasonably expect to deliver.”
The Minister added that the government was doing “all it can” to support the “privately operated and run sector” through its recently launched 22-point plan.
The government claims the plan will help the aviation sector recruit and train staff it needs to ensure delivery of a “realistic” summer schedule, one that minimises disruption and assists passengers who face unavoidable delays and cancellations.
This “realistic” summer schedule involves airlines cutting capacity… a move that would see profits dip and airfares rise as the “privately operated and run sector” tries to recoup the massive losses it suffered due to the UK Government’s ban on travel during the pandemic and it’s start-stop approach which knocked consumers confidence to travel.
