Can strategy like ‘flightpath to the future’ help overcome the travel chaos?
Written by Kunal Sawhney, CEO, Kalkine
Airlines are suddenly in the news after various flights were cancelled, affecting the half-term getaway for many. First, it was the low-cost carrier EasyJet, which announced to cancel over 200 flights over the next 24 days, followed by the travel company Tui which announced cancelling multiple flights over the weekend.
At a time when the UK is bracing up for an extended bank holiday weekend, flight cancellations and delays have washed out plans of many. Also, traditionally, the summer tourist season is considered to be starting with the June half-term. It is going to be the busiest tourist season after the restrictions of the covid-19 pandemic.
Soon after the cancellation announcement, both the companies, blamed a number of issues for it and added that it was required to provide reliable services over this busy period. The reasons given by the airlines include air traffic restrictions and runway works, and handling delays by the airports, while it was a software failure that had forced easyJet to cancel around 200 flights.
The chaos is not something that has erupted abruptly; since the removal of the restrictions, there has been a sudden rebound in travel demand, and the airlines were finding it hard to handle the situation amid their inability to recruit enough ground staff. EasyJet even had to take the extreme step of removing six seats from some A319 aircraft, which could help it fly with one lesser crew member.
The latest chaos saw many travellers stuck in hour-long queues at several airports, with families waiting for clarity on the flight and alternatives offered in case of cancellation. It is not in the sky but on the roads as well. Motoring organisation the RAC has warned of heavy congestion on roads, and people are being urged to check the latest advice before travelling. Thousands of flights have been cancelled ahead of Memorial Day. The sudden spike in traffic volumes is undoubtedly the reason, but airlines and airports were not fully prepared, putting plans of travellers holiday celebrators in disarray.
Government’s 10-point strategy
Recently, the government came up with its 10-point strategy ‘Flightpath to the future, a strategy to deliver an innovative and sustainable aviation sector over the next 10 years. The plan has been envisaged to deliver a successful aviation sector of the future with the government and the industry working together.
While launching the strategy, the government had stated that consumers, jobs and innovation would be at the heart of it. Pandemic resulted in an existential crisis for the aviation sector, so the new strategy has been targeted to rebuild consumer confidence after the pandemic. It was said that the government will work closely with industry and consumer groups to support the sector deliver the best service possible for consumers.
The government had also targeted to deliver benefits for communities across the whole country with the ‘flightpath to the future’ strategy, and the focus was to be on attracting and retaining the skills to accommodate new technologies by the sector.
Final thoughts
The government’s strategic framework over the next 10 years through ‘flightpath to the future’ may deliver results in the coming future, but the chaos that the aviation sector is going through at present needs urgent attention. Airlines, going by the rulebook, are compensating the aggrieved passengers facing a chaotic situation. However, everyone was aware that this half-term period would be the busiest travel period, still, proper preparation was not done either by the government or the airlines, which resulted in the disruption of travel plans for a score of passengers.
