British Airways scraps 800 more flights as UK waives airlines slot rules

The move by British Airways to scrap 800 more flights follows the UK’s decision to waive rules requiring airlines to use take-off and landing slots or lose them the next season.

British Airways will pull an estimated 800 more flights from its summer schedule as the carrier looks to reduce last-minute cancellations amid continuing staffing shortages and long queues at airports.

Passengers stand in a queue to the British Airways check-in desks in the departures area of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in London, Britain (REUTERS/John Sibley/File Photo)

The cuts -- combined with the roughly 8,000 dropped flights announced in May -- mean the unit of IAG SA has now reduced its timetable by 11% through October. The move follows the UK’s decision to waive rules requiring airlines to use take-off and landing slots or lose them the next season.

“As the entire aviation industry continues to face into the most challenging period in its history, regrettably it has become necessary to make some further reductions,” a BA spokesman said Tuesday by email. “We’re in touch with customers to apologize and offer to rebook them or issue a full refund.”

Airports and airlines across Europe are slashing capacity and cancelling flights after being caught flatfooted by a surge of demand following two years of virtually no travel.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.