Airport chaos - live: easyJet cancels more flights, while Gatwick passengers report three-hour queues
Airline-wide systems failure now rectified but flights continue to be disrupted
Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts
Get Simon Calder’s Travel email
The chaos continues today at various airports as the aviation industry buckles under the strain of increased demand.
Following a systems failure yesterday, which saw at least 200 of its flights grounded, easyJet has this morning cancelled another 20 or so services from Gatwick, Bristol, Newcastle and Edinburgh at a few hours’ notice.
The cancellations are likely to affect around 3,000 passengers.
Meanwhile, travellers at Gatwick airport have reported queues of more than three hours to check-in.
“@British_Airways at @Gatwick_Airport what are you playing at. First and last time I’ll be flying from there. Three hours waiting for check in and I’m still waiting,” tweeted one irate passenger, alongside a picture of a long queue with no visible end in sight.
Outside the UK, KLM has suspended all sales of Amsterdam flights this weekend amid staff shortages at Schiphol Airport, while Delta says it will cancel about 100 flights a day in July and August to prevent major summer travel disruptions.
‘Extraordinary circumstances’ message ‘sent in error’, says easyJet
An easyJet representative has said that a message claiming Thursday afternoon’s cancellations were caused by “extraordinary circumstances” - thus invalidating any compensation claims by passengers affected - was “sent in error”.
The spokesperson said: “The IT systems issue is now rectified. Unfortunately the ‘extraordinary’ was sent in error.
“We consider the cancellations related to the IT systems issues to be non-extraordinary. We will be reissuing customer comms to those who have received the incorrect information.”
Simon Calder to answer your travel questions: 4pm today
Caught up in the easyJet chaos today? Flight cancelled earlier this week? Concerned about this summer’s projected general travel chaos?
Our travel expert Simon Calder is just sitting down to answer your questions - go to the link below and comment at the bottom of the page to ask yours.
You may have to register in order to submit your question in the comments box.
Join the conversation here:
Simon Calder to answer your travel questions live
The Independent’s travel expert is on hand to answer your queries as countries further afield begin to appeal
Are airlines allowed to offer me a replacement flight days later?
This week, several readers have reported that easyJet has offered them a replacement flight several days after the day their flight was cancelled by the airline.
Is this allowed?
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder says: “You are entitled to travel on the original day of departure, if there is any commercial way of getting you to your destination. You should give the cancelling airline the opportunity to arrange a new flight (or, for destinations such as Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam, a Eurostar train).
“Airlines understandably want to keep passengers on their own services, but there are clear limits. The Civil Aviation Authority says that if the cancelling airline has another flight on the same day, it can rebook you on that (and provide meals while you wait).
“If the cancelling airline cannot or will not meet its obligation, you should buy a ticket and then claim it back.”
What are my consumer rights if my flight is cancelled?
Flight cancelled? You are due a replacement flight as soon as possible, meals and hotel accommodation if necessary – and probably cash compensation as well
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled at the last minute?
Tens of thousands of easyJet passengers have had their flights cancelled because of a failure of the airline’s IT systems.
At least 200 flights have been cancelled across the network.
So what are your consumer rights if your journey is axed at the last minute?
Under European air passengers’ rights rules, easyJet must:
- ensure its passengers are flown where they need to be as soon as possible
- provide hotels and meals as appropriate
In addition, it appears that passengers are due compensation of either £220 (for flights of under 1,500km) or £350 (longer flights).
Here’s the full breakdown of what airlines owe customers in the event of a cancellation:
EasyJet cancellations: your rights
Flight cancelled? You are due a replacement flights as soon as possible, meals and hotel accommodation if necessary – and probably cash compensation as well
What has easyJet said about the cancellations?
The airline is calling the tech failure that has grounded some 200 flights “IT systems issues”.
A spokeswoman for easyJet said: “Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing IT systems issues which means that flights due to depart between 13:00 and 15:00 UK time today may be impacted.
“Our team of IT specialists is working to restore the systems as soon as possible.
“We advise customers due to travel with us today to continue to check Flight Tracker to check the status of their flight before making their way to the airport.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and would like to thank customers for their patience as we work to resolve this as soon as possible.”
Meanwhile, customers with cancelled flights were told in a message that the issue was “outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance”.
Which airports and flights are affected?
As easyJet cancels hundreds of flights this afternoon amid what is thought to be an airline-wide IT system failure, which flights and airports are affected?
Dozens of flights to and from Gatwick and Bristol airport have been grounded, along with a handful each at Luton, Manchester and Belfast.
The Independent is listing them here:
easyJet: key flights cancelled to and from UK airports
Gatwick, the airline’s biggest base, has seen at least 30 cancellations on Thursday afternoon
What’s happening with easyJet?
Britain’s biggest budget airline, easyJet, has been forced to cancel some 200 flights amid what they are calling “IT systems issues”.
Airports affected include Gatwick, Bristol, Luton, Manchester and Belfast, with cancelled routes including Rhodes, Santorini, Antalya, Gran Canaria and Glasgow.
Customers who hoped to claim compensation for the disruption have already been rebuffed, with the airline saying the IT systems failure is “outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance”.
Read the full story:
EasyJet flights cancelled after ‘system failure’
Airline set to reject compensation claims, saying IT systems failure is ‘outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance”
Good afternoon
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s travel liveblog, where we’ll be updating you with all the latest news around easyJet’s systems failure and flight cancellations.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies