Industry sources have downplayed reports of widespread delays to passengers at UK airports, insisting the problems mostly affect check-in at Heathrow and security screening at Manchester.
However, they admit concern about delays at the border this weekend as travellers return from Easter holidays.
Media reports suggested a growing row between UK airlines and the government with a “senior industry figure” warning in the Times of “a summer disrupted by the government” due to staff security vetting “taking up to six months”.
More: Easter flight departures set to hit 78% of pre-pandemic levels
But an aviation source told Travel Weekly: “We’ve been working constructively with the government on speeding up vetting. We hope this hasn’t been jeopardised by the airlines having a go at the government. There are still security staff shortages, but senior and office-based staff are all on the frontline and passengers are getting away.
“Most of the problems are at check-in. Ground handlers were big on firing people during the pandemic and it’s taking longer to check-in because of document checks and staff shortages.”
The source added: “It’s not a uniquely British problem. We’ll see this so long as there are travel restrictions around Europe.”
Heathrow noted in a statement: “Half of global markets still require Covid checks, which is causing congestion in check-in areas at peak times.”
The same source warned of possible delays for travellers re-entering the UK this weekend, saying: “We’re always worried about Border Force – pre-pandemic, during the pandemic and post-pandemic.” However, they described the idea that security vetting staff is taking six months as “overblown”.
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren confirmed “there is a lag in security vetting. . . [but] the delay is about three weeks.”
But a Cabinet Office spokesman told the Times : “There are absolutely no delays to security vetting of applicants. It is wrong to suggest otherwise and we are prioritising vetting applications from the aviation industry.”
An airline source insisted: “These comments [in the media] don’t reflect the reality. We don’t want a blame game we just want the issues resolved.”
The CAA wrote to airlines reminding them of their obligations “to provide passengers with information about their rights” when flights are disrupted. The letter from chief executive Richard Moriarty implied capacity had been brought back too quickly, saying it was “important” airlines set schedules “on a basis that is deliverable”.
However, the airline source blamed the removal of furlough and the speed at which restrictions were lifted without prior warning saying, “there was no clarity” on travel restrictions when the government furlough scheme ended last September: “It’s wholly unreasonable to think airlines which had no knowledge of when restrictions would finish could keep people on without furlough support.
“Even two weeks before the restart, we didn’t know when it would happen or what the reaction would be.”
Manchester Airports Group chief executive Charlie Cornish apologised to passengers as Manchester airport continued to warn of “longer than usual” queues at security. But he pointed out: “We consistently said we needed clarity on when travel restrictions would be removed, partly so we could work out the right time to begin recruiting. As recently as January, tight travel restrictions remained in place. Demand returned in a matter of weeks.”
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland called for lessons to be learnt from the “travel shambles” this Easter.
He said: “With many in the industry predicting a busy summer, the government must work with airlines and airports to ensure they have the resources and capacity to handle increased passenger numbers, as there can be no excuse for a repeat of these failings.
“Airlines wouldn’t be ignoring the law and their passengers’ rights if the aviation regulator had some teeth.
“The Department for Transport can support consumers by equipping the Civil Aviation Authority with direct fining powers. It should also drop its plans to change compensation rules for UK flights which are an important deterrent against passengers being treated unfairly.”
A government spokesperson reportedly said: “The aviation industry is responsible for resourcing at airports and for airlines and they manage their staff absences. We do not want to see any disruption for passengers and we are working with industry on the issues being faced in order to minimise any disruption as much as possible.
“It is paramount that aviation staff are properly vetted and while we continue to process security clearances as quickly as possible, we will not, and people would not expect us to, put the safety of the public at risk.”