Gatwick Airport will reduce daily flight capacity throughout July and August in an attempt to prevent short-notice cancellations and ground handling delays, which have plagued the UK’s aviation industry in recent weeks.
Daily flights will be capped at 825 in July, and will increase to 850 in August.
In a statement released on Friday the airport said the flight cap will allow airlines to manage ‘more predictable and reliable’ flight programmes.
Gatwick Airport CEO, Stewart Wingate, also urged airlines to ensure schedules are realistic and in line with current cabin crew and ground handling resources.
“Gatwick prepared well for the restart of international travel by successfully reopening our South Terminal and we have now successfully recruited 400 new colleagues to help us process passengers quickly through security this summer," he said. "We are also working closely with our airlines to avoid disruption to passengers this summer, and while more newly recruited staff will start work in coming weeks, we know it will be a busy summer.”
Following significant air travel disruptions in April and May, the UK government and Civil Aviation Authority have also called on airlines to review their summer schedules.
According to the Business Travel Association, the UK’s corporate travel sector has been “severely impacted” by the disruptions and its TMC members have reportedly spent the equivalent of more than 200 days dealing with flight cancellations.
The issue extends across Europe. Last week, German carrier Lufthansa cancelled hundreds of flights scheduled for July due to staff shortages.