The government insists security checks for new aviation sector workers are being accelerated to help combat staff shortages blamed for causing airport delays and flight cancellations.
The fast-tracking of the vetting process aims to support industry efforts get new employees, such as X-ray screeners, as quickly as possible, so it can meet the surge in demand for summer flights.
But passengers faced further disruption on Saturday as a computer failure at Heathrow left aircraft unable to refuel.
More: Government sets out 22-point aviation action plan to avoid summer disruption
Which? demands major overhaul of travel sector rules amid airport disruption
Night-flight relaxation ‘option considered to relieve summer airport disruption’
Airlines and airports are also facing strikes by workers demanding better pay and working conditions, adding to the disruptions. Paris Charles de Gaulle airport was reportedly calmer on Sunday after some workers halted a strike that led to the cancellation of about a fifth of flights on Friday and Saturday.
SAS pilots are threatening a strike and talks will continue today (Monday).
Ryanair’s Spanish cabin crews are calling for an additional 12 days of strikes this month, while staff at EasyJet bases in the country began the first of a series of three-day strikes on Friday.
Ryanair said it expected minimal, if any, disruption to its flights operating to and from Spain due to industrial action between July 12-28.
The budget airline giant claimed that less than 1% of flights have been affected in the past month by recent “minor and poorly supported” cabin crew strikes called by unions who are either not recognised by or who represent tiny numbers of Ryanair crews.
Government measures are resulting in around 97% of security accreditation checks being completed in an average of around five days, with Counter Terrorist Checks (CTC) being processed in under ten days.
This is a reduction from the 20-day average turnaround for CTC checks in March, before the priority measures for aviation sector applications were introduced, according to the Department for Transport.
Flexibility for employers to begin training new staff on certain modules while background checks are ongoing has already been provided, while HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) employment history letters can be used as a suitable form of reference check.
The government has focused on delivering these checks as quickly as possible without compromising security to help ensure people don’t experience a repeat of the disruption at Easter during the summer holidays, the DfT said.
Ministers have rejected calls to issue temporary visas for aviation workers, arguing that staff shortages are not exclusive to the UK, but occurring across Europe and the US.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “These statistics demonstrate how the government is doing its bit to help deliver for passengers; now the industry must fulfil its responsibilities.
“People have made huge sacrifices during the pandemic and deserve their flights to run on time, without complications, and without being cancelled last minute.
“While this is a challenging time for the sector, it is not acceptable for the current disruption to continue as we head into the summer peak.
“The public deserves to know now whether or not their flight will run over the summer, and so I reiterate my call for the industry to commit to deliver the flights they have scheduled, or to cancel them well in advance so people can make other arrangements.”
Airlines are expected to confirm levels of cancellations to summer flights this week aimed at tackling disruption during the peak season.
A government amnesty to airport slot rules is in place until Friday, allowing carriers to change schedules without facing a potential penalty to help alleviate last-minute cancellations.
A 22-point plan issued by government last week was designed to ensure passengers don’t face a summer of disruption. It included measures to help the industry recruit and train staff and ensure the delivery of “realistic” summer schedules.
Shapps added: “Building on our 22-point plan to help the industry minimise disruption, we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure this summer is a great success for the British public.”
More: Government sets out 22-point aviation action plan to avoid summer disruption
Which? demands major overhaul of travel sector rules amid airport disruption
Night-flight relaxation ‘option considered to relieve summer airport disruption’