EasyJet warned today it will cancel more flights in the run-up to Easter due to staff shortages sparked by Covid.
The Luton-based airline apologised yesterday for cancelling 200 flights over the weekend but today said it was cancelling a further 60 services as staffing issues remained a problem.
EasyJet said absences were double their normal levels due to Covid and that it had made the decision to cancel flights to give customers advance notice.
More cancellations are expected in the coming days, it added, with shortages of crew, check-in staff and security personnel at airports all adding to the problems.
Airports too have been struggling with travellers at Manchester and Birmingham airports complaining of chaos over the weekend as they struggled to retrieve bags from the arrival areas.
Airlines last night tried to blame the government for the problems, arguing that attempts to hire new crew and ground staff were being hampered by counterterrorism checks.
Vetting previously took around 15 weeks, but the industry says it is now taking up to double that time in some areas.
easyJet PLC and British Airways cancel flights as Covid absences hit hard
An increase in the number of jobs potential staff have had during the pandemic is suggested as one of the reasons for the process delays as a greater number of checks are needed.
Others, though, point the finger at the airlines, saying that after sacking thousands of staff during the pandemic they had been caught out by how swiftly demand for flights had bounced back.
British Airways, which cancelled 62 flights on Monday to add to 100 over the weekend, shed 12,000 staff during the pandemic and tried to rehire many on worse terms and conditions.
Shares in easyJet dipped 1% to 548p while British Airways owner IAG dropped 0.3% to 141.3p.