British Airways responded to reports that its Heathrow services were expected to bear the brunt of the new canceled flights, saying it welcomed the new measures to allow them to take place.
It comes after another week of travel chaos at Heathrow, when the airport ordered flights canceled because it could not handle them. Airport passengers complained of long queues, canceled flights and lost luggage on Thursday and Friday as “scheduling interference” and disruptions at UK airports were exacerbated by strikes in Spain.
The airline told the PA it welcomed the “slot relief” measures, which allow airlines to temporarily reduce their schedules but still keep their slots for next year.
An airline spokesman told the PA news agency that its cancellations, triggered by the slot amnesty, will “help us provide the security our customers deserve by facilitating the consolidation of some of our quieter daily flights to multi-frequency destinations well in advance’.
It comes after the Daily Telegraph reported that BA’s Heathrow services will be hit hardest by a flurry of new flight cancellations.
“Allocation of slots according to [World Airport Slots Guide system] means that airlines can offer the consistent service and efficient connections that consumers are looking for, and protect jobs and create growth in the UK.”
The threat of industrial action also continues to loom. BA staff are demanding 10% of their pay they were ‘stolen’ last year as they faced ‘fire and re-hire’ tactics during the pandemic.
Add Comment