Flights cancelled from Heathrow due to 'higher passenger numbers than airport can serve'

June 30, 2022

More flights from Heathrow have been cancelled today due to passenger numbers exceeding the airport's maximum capacity.

A total of 30 flights have been removed from the morning schedule as the travel chaos across UK airports continues.

Most passengers are expected to be rebooked on to other flights outside of peak times, making it still possible for them to fly out today.

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "We are expecting higher passenger numbers in today's morning peak than the airport currently has capacity to serve, and so to keep everyone safe we have asked airlines to remove 30 flights from the morning peak for today only.

"We apologise for the impact this has on travel plans.

"We are working hard to ensure everyone has a smooth journey through Heathrow this summer, and the most important thing is to make sure that all service providers at the airport have enough resources to meet demand."

A "small number" of British Airways flights are among those affected, with the airline saying it is in contact with affected customers.

It is expected that 98% of flights out of the airport will operate as planned.

Customers who have been impacted by the cancellations should be contacted by their airline and given advice on the possible alternatives.

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'Absolute shambles'

However, some passengers did not find out their flights were cancelled until they arrived at what is the UK's busiest airport.

Travel writer and broadcaster Andy Mossack said: "Total chaos at Heathrow this morning. British Airways flights cancelled and zero customer service."

A groom, who had flown to Italy from Heathrow, hit out at British Airwsys after the suitcase containing his wedding outfit, decorations and clothes for his honeymoon wasn't loaded onto his flight.

Farhad Ehtesham from Surrey said: "The moment we landed, we got an email saying 'Your luggage is not there, please contact us'.

"I can't replace a wedding outfit that was planned nine months ahead. It's just unbelievable."

He was told by airport staff in Rome that the suitcase would be on the next flight, due out on Thursday morning, but it was among those that has been cancelled.

"BA's website is really terrible beacause they don't respond to any messages," he said.

"Any phone lines just go dead.I tried to message them on Instagram, Facebook and so on but got no response.

"We don't know what to do."

One passenger, who is travelling with a 12-week-old baby, told Sky News he wasn't informed that his family's flight to Greece was cancelled until they were five minutes away from the airport.

Another, Andrew Douglas, described how he was due to be on a flight to go on holiday but had "spent the last four hours in multiple queues at Heathrow Airport because it's been cancelled".

He added: "Absolute shambles, complete chaos and only found out at check-in with no prior notification. Horrific service."

Sky News also heard from a person who is stranded in Frankfurt after taking a 15-hour flight from Tokyo yesterday.

They were due to catch a British Airways flight back to Heathrow but discovered it was cancelled upon their arrival.

On top of that, they've had to wait five hours to claim their baggage.

"Obtaining food was difficult by the time baggage was returned and I have dietary requirements making it even more challenging," they said.

"I have incurred hundreds of euros in costs and today's flights are also unavailable so I'm currently on a 1 July flight making that a two-day waste of my time away from my family."

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In recent weeks, passengers using Heathrow have experienced long queues, and many have been separated from their luggage for several days.

There are fears that the severe disruption seen at UK airports in the run-up to Easter and the Jubilee bank holiday will return during the peak summer holiday period.

The whole industry has been struggling to scale-up operations after COVID restrictions were lifted, which experts say has left the sector facing 40 years of passenger growth in just four months.

Have you been affected by Heathrow cancellations? Contact us:
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