British Airways has not had the best of starts since borders reopened following the pandemic. Following a chaotic Easter Bank Holiday, the airline giant has now cancelled over 100 flights that were due to take off from London’s Heathrow today. 86 short-haul international flights and 18 domestic flights have been affected.
Passengers were given one to two weeks’ notice for the pre-planned cancellations, according to the airline.
Although it has not been confirmed by British Airways, passengers whose flights were cancelled should have been given the option to travel on an alternative flight as close to their original flight times as possible or claim a refund from the airline. Those given less than 14 days’ notice may also be able to claim for compensation from the airline.
Easyjet flights from Gatwick have also been cancelled, with more than 70 flights affected. The budget airline has said the majority of its passengers have been rebooked onto alternative flights with some now flying with rival airlines.
It is believed British Airways will be using aircraft and crew from Finnair, the airlines Oneworld partner, in order to prepare for the boost in bookings over the summer period.
Passengers booking their flights independently should ensure they are checking the airlines terms and conditions for cancellations and ensuring they have a suitable travel insurance policy in place to cover them should their flight be moved and they are not able to use their original accommodation booking or are unable to amend their accommodation dates. This cover is not widely available, so travellers are advised to check the policy wording carefully.
If you have any questions regarding travel insurance please do not hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to assist: [email protected]
