London's Heathrow Airport blamed coronavirus checks for the long delays which have caused travel chaos over recent weeks.
Problems have been compounded by Covid staff shortages and resurgent passenger numbers following the ending of UK travel restrictions in March.
As a consequence, it was the airport's busiest month since the start of the pandemic in spring 2020, with nearly 4.2 million passengers processed, according to data released by Heathrow on Monday.
It is believed up to 20,000 passengers were forced to cancel or alter their Easter plans after flights were cancelled at the weekend.
British Airways and easyJet said they cancelled more than 100 flights at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
On Monday, the figure rose as British Airways cancelled 58 more domestic and European flights, and easyJet cut 32 more flights.
A spike in coronavirus-related staff absences, combined with difficulties in recruiting new staff, means the aviation sector has struggled to cope with passenger numbers in recent weeks.
The airport cut dozens of jobs during the pandemic and, now that the sector is returning to pre-pandemic activity, it is struggling to deal with staff sickness and is having to wait for recruits to pass stringent security checks.
Heathrow admitted “resources are stretched” but said it is “working closely with airlines and ground handlers to make sure this increase in demand can be met while keeping passengers safe”.
There is “congestion in check-in areas at peak times” as “half of global markets” still require passengers to pass coronavirus checks such as testing and vaccination status, according to Heathrow.
It said that “other airport processes are currently working to plan” and it is working with the UK Border Force to “ensure sufficient levels of resource are in place to cope with the large number of passengers returning to the UK over the next couple of weeks”.
Ministers have called on the government to fast-track staff security checks.
“The government needs to begin clearing the huge backlogs in security checks so airport staff can safely begin work,” Louise Haigh, the shadow transport secretary, said.
The Civil Aviation Authority has written a letter to airlines telling them that the “distressing” flight cancellations could have a ripple effect across the industry, which is recovering from the battering it took during the pandemic.
Heathrow reports March resurgence
Paradoxically the cancellations indicate sectorial recovery, a trend burnished by the 4,196,656 passengers who used Heathrow in March.
This is the highest number since February 2020 and represents nearly an eight-fold increase on the total during the same month in 2021.
“It is fantastic to see the airport coming back to life after two years, and I want to thank all team Heathrow colleagues for working together to serve our passengers,” chief executive John Holland-Kaye said.
“Everyone at Heathrow is doing everything we can to make sure passengers get on their way as smoothly and safely as possible.”
The rise in passenger numbers was attributed to the government’s removal of all coronavirus travel restrictions.
However, new figures show Heathrow slipped from the second busiest airport for international travel before the pandemic to number seven in 2021.
Airports Council International said Heathrow was used by 17.6 million international passengers last year, down 77 per cent on the total for 2019.
Dubai maintained its spot at the top of the ranking.
The five airports to overtake Heathrow in 2021 were Istanbul, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Doha.
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
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Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
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Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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Key facilities
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
A German university was a good fit for the family budget
Annual fees for the Technical University of Munich - £600
Shared rental accommodation per month depending on the location ranges between £200-600
The family had budgeted for food, books, travel, living expenses - £20,000 annually
Overall costs in Germany are lower than the family estimated
As proof that the student has the ability to take care of expenses, international students must open a blocked account with about £8,640
Students are permitted to withdraw £720 per month
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
My Country: A Syrian Memoir
Kassem Eid, Bloomsbury
Specs
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The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
