EasyJet cancels 2% of summer flights schedule over air traffic worries

British airline EasyJet canceled 2% of its summer schedule, affecting the holiday plans of 180,000 customers, which it blamed on air traffic control challenges across Europe.

The travel industry is on high alert for turmoil this summer after peak season hit Europe last year due to cancellations, causing chaos at airports, because the industry did not have enough staff to handle the rapid rebound in demand post-pandemic.

This summer, air traffic control issues are likely to be the weak point, warns Eurocontrol, which manages European airspace.

EasyJet, the UK’s largest airline by passenger numbers, said on Monday that making changes now means it may avoid last-minute cancellations that have been more expensive and disruptive to passengers.

The airline said it had plenty of crew and pilots, but concerns about air traffic meant it canceled 1,700 flights, mostly from its largest base at London’s Gatwick airport, out of 90,000 flights scheduled for the rest of July and August.

It said 95% of affected passengers have already been rebooked on an alternative flight because it has mostly consolidated its flights with multiple frequencies.

Europe’s airspace has come under pressure due to the war in Ukraine reducing aircraft capacity, plus staffing problems at some air control sites and industrial strikes causing bottlenecks, making cancellations on the day more likely.

“We regret any inconvenience this may have caused,” easyJet said in a statement.

The company’s stock prices were stable in trading on Monday.