According to Tui, flight disruption in the UK was the worst in Europe in recent months. 

“We had significant challenges and interruptions, especially on the UK side […] We have never before invested so much into standby aircraft, into wet-lease [short-term] capacity, into people to take the calls,” – explained Tui’s incoming chief executive Sebastian Ebel. The latter is to take over his new job at the start of October.

The lifting of COVID travel restrictions led to the rising demand for foreign holidays during spring. According to Ebel, this phenomenon was underestimated by his company. 

Like many other companies, Tui observed repercussions related to an overall lack of workforce in airports, mostly in baggage handling and security. 

In May, the British company announced the cancellation of nearly 200 flights from Manchester airport until the end of June. The firm informed that these cancellations represented 1% of its summer program. 

It insisted it has cancelled fewer flights than its rivals and promised s it had “learned from flight delays and cancellations” and the situation would be “back to normal” soon. 

Tui, Europe’s largest tour operator, carried 5.1 million customers between April and June, which represents an 84% increase in passenger numbers compared with 2019.

Image: British Poles

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen