Heathrow extends cap on passenger numbers until 29 October
Heathrow will continue to limit the number of passengers departing from the airport until 29 October. The reason given is that the customer experience has improved since the introduction of the cap in July, with “fewer last-minute cancellations, better punctuality and shorter wait times for bags”.
The capacity limit is currently set at 100,000 departing passengers per day and was initially imposed until 11 September. The airport will regularly review the cap, with the option to lift it earlier than anticipated if there is a “sustained picture of better resilience and a material increase in resourcing levels”.
Last month Heathrow blamed disruption on a lack of airline baggage handlers and launched a review of ground handling last week. It plans to work with airlines and ground handlers to “unlock more capacity” and meet passenger demand in the coming months and years.
Schiphol to compensate passengers who missed flights
Amsterdam Schiphol airport has launched a scheme to compensate passengers who have missed a flight as a result of long queues at security control. The Dutch airport has seen ongoing disruption due to staff shortages and rising demand as travel bounces back following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The temporary scheme applies to passengers who arrived at the airport on time for flights between 23 April and 11 August but missed their flights due to lengthy waiting times. Travellers can submit a compensation request via a form at schiphol.nl/compensation until 30 September.
They can claim for costs including rebooking a flight, booking a replacement flight, extra travel costs, accommodation costs, along with “expenses for non-cancellable accommodation, transport or activities” at their destination. It stresses that the programme is not designed for flights that were cancelled or delayed.
Travel news as a glance:
- BA ends suspension on selling short-haul Heathrow tickets
- Emirates suspends Nigerian flights from September
- Virgin Atlantic pilots save 1,000 tonnes of fuel through fuel efficiency behaviours app
- IAG takes 20 per cent stake in Air Europa
- Easyjet to launch Belfast City-Glasgow route from 31 October
- Dubai International airport records 27.9 million passengers in H1
- London Stansted airport reaches 90 per cent of pre-Covid traffic
- Abu Dhabi’s Etihad to introduce double daily flights to Manila from 30 October
- O2 opens pop-up lounge at Gatwick North Terminal until 9 October