Gatwick airport has decided to cut summer capacity to minimize long queues, delays, and last-minute cancellations after dozens of last-minute cancellations ruined the travel plans of hundreds of holidaymakers.
The number of daily flights at London’s second busiest airport will be cut to 825 in July and 850 in August, down from 900 daily take-offs and landings in previous years.
The airport said that it had reopened its South terminal and already recruited around 400 new staff after reviewing its operations in a move to provide passengers “a more reliable and better standard of service”.
Commenting on this decision, Gatwick’s chief executive, Stewart Wingate, said:
“It is clear that during the jubilee week a number of companies operating at the airport struggled, in particular, because of staff shortages. By taking decisive action now, we aim to help the ground handlers – and also our airlines – to better match their flying programs with their available resources.”
He further stated that there had been a “remarkable turnaround” in the number of flights, which has quadrupled since January.
“As has already been the case, the vast majority of flights over the summer will operate as normal,” Wingate added.