Latest news with #travelchaos
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Strike action planned for the first weekend of summer holidays across Italian airports – it's set to cause chaos
STRIKES across Italian airports are set to cause trouble for British holidaymakers travelling this weekend. Italian officials have warned that aviation industry staff are planning to strike across Italy on the first Saturday of the summer holidays leading to potential flight delays and cancellations. 4 4 Lots of Brits will be ditching the UK for a break in sunny Italy, but could be met with chaos due to strike action. The Italian Transport Ministry has announced that airport staff including security workers and baggage handlers are set to walk out for a four-hour shutdown between 1PM and 5PM on Saturday 26 July. This will impact passengers heading to major terminals at airports including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Florence and Venice. The Assohandlers group, which represents baggage handlers at dozens of airports across Italy, is set to strike. The company has Ryanair, Wizz Air and TUI among its clients, meaning flights with those carriers could be impacted. While the planned strike is set to last just four hours, it will also have a ripple effect on later services too. To add to the disruption, staff at Spanish budget airline, Volotea, are set to walk out during the day as well. Strike action in Italy earlier this month ended with 73 flights scheduled to depart from and arrive in the country being cancelled in a single day. The scrapped flights included services from Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Naples and Venice Marco Polo - affecting passengers travelling via Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester. Darina Kovacheva, Head of Legal at airline compensation specialist SkyRefund says: 'As we saw earlier this month, the ongoing discontent among aviation workers in Italy is causing mayhem for holidaymakers visiting the country. Popular Italian holiday hotspot bans walking barefoot, booze & picnics with rules-breaking tourists facing hefty fines 4 She continued: "We highly recommend that passengers travelling to Italy this weekend monitor the status of their flight before travelling to the airport, as strikes like these can cause last minute cancellations." For anyone flying with Volotea, Darina has said that certain passengers could be eligible for compensation if their flight is delayed or cancelled. She added: "Under EU Regulation 261/2004, when disruption to a passenger's journey is caused by an airline's own employees, such as the planned Volotea staff strike, passengers may be eligible for compensation." Several Italian airports have issued early warning on their websites and social media channels encouraging passengers to consider rescheduling flights. There's already travel chaos for Brits who have been driving to the port of Dover and have been stuck in long queues to cross the Channel. The RAC estimates that up to 13.9 million journeys could be made between July 21 and July 24. Here's more on flight delays and what to do if you're affected. Flight compensation rules A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs. What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed? Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight. You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet. So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded. But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline. When am I not entitled to compensation? The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather. Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other 'extraordinary circumstances' are not eligible for compensation. Some airlines may stretch the definition of "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled? If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you. Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer. Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof. If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance. 4
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Brits stuck in huge queues as summer holiday getaway begins & drivers warned of ‘midweek mayhem' as 14m take to roads
THOUSANDS of drivers are stuck in huge queues at the Port of Dover, as Brits head off on their summer getaways. The disruption has been caused by a series of road closures and weather warnings, just as millions of other drivers prepare to hit the roads. 3 3 3 The end of July is one of the most popular times for Brits to head off abroad, as the long school year finally draws to a close. However, the huge surge in journeys to airports and staycation destinations means more people will be on the roads than ever. The RAC estimates that up to 13.9 million journeys could be made between July 21 and July 24. 2.3 million trips were estimated on Monday, with a further 2 million being made just a day later. The RAC believes that this could be the biggest number of car journeys made midweek since records began. The dreaded annual 'Frantic Friday' - the first Friday following the end of the school term - is set to land on July 25, bolstering the huge number of drivers even further. The closure of the M2 eastbound in Kent, between Junction 1 and 2, has thrown even more travel plans into chaos. Authorities closed the road at 5.40am, with police responding to 'concern for a person' spotted on the motorway. Although the road reopened at 8.40am, congestion is still easing after a huge backlog of cars. Throughout all of the chaos, heavy queues have been steadily building at the Port of Dover - with drivers being forced to wait before heading abroad. July 1 'backseat passenger' law will fine drivers $25 for every single person in car who fails to 'make it click' Some holidaymakers have been spotted leaving their cars, as the queues continued to build, waiting beside the side of the road. Brits have been spotted sitting on fences between roads as they wait, despite travel experts previously warning that this is unsafe. The Port of Dover is a popular travel route for Brits heading to France and, then, onto Europe. The Met Office has placed the area, along with much of the South East, under a yellow weather warning which disrupt travel even further. The warning will last until 5pm today, as the area is hit with 'slow-moving heavy showers'. Thunderstorms could also lead to disruption in the tourist route, as the Met Office has warned of damage to buildings, delays to train services and power losses throughout the region. Residents in Kent and Sussex have been told to expect 25mm on rain in less than an hour, which could build to 40mm of rain in some areas. Meteorologists have urged drivers to avoid delays by checking road conditions before driving and to prepare for rapidly changing weather warnings.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
EasyJet horror as crew member is ATTACKED by passenger on runway before fleeing & hiding in airport after flight from UK
AN EasyJet passenger has attacked a crew member on touchdown before fleeing through the terminal. The thug struck the frontline worker as the plane doors opened on arrival in Spain from Gatwick airport. 3 The traumatised cabin crew flyer suffered shoulder injuries and was unable to work the return leg, sparking travel chaos. Without a full quota of staff, a number of passengers had to be ditched from Flight EZY8110 from Alicante to London. Cops are still hunting the rogue hooligan who assaulted the EasyJet worker, after he fled through the terminal. Airline bosses had to seek volunteers to miss the flight back to the UK on the same aircraft. Jon Lockett, 57, of Bromley, south east London, a passenger on the outgoing flight, said; "Passengers were unhappy with the initial lack of information as we were left stranded in a hot gangway for 90 minutes. "We knew something was going on as there were frantic calls on the ground crew's walkie talkies. "Then the crew told us what had happened and everyone calmed down and were very understanding." One passenger waiting for the flight back to Gatwick said: "We were delayed for two hours while they sorted it out. "The attacker from the incoming flight had sprinted off the plane and gone into hiding in the airport. "When we finally boarded, the pilot explained to us why we'd been delayed. 3 "EasyJet managed to get about 15 volunteers to take an alternative flight home and they were offered hotel accommodation if they couldn't go that day." An aviation source said: "If the attack had happened during the flight, pilots would call ahead to have police ready to meet the aircraft and deal with the passenger. "But it all happened after touching down and the passenger ran for it before stunned colleagues could do anything." A spokesperson for the airline refused to give further details or comment on what might have prompted the attack. They said: 'Due to a passenger behaving disruptively onboard the previous flight, a cabin crew member was unable to operate flight EZY8110 from Alicante to London Gatwick. Travel chaos as TWO flights have mid-air emergencies within A MINUTE at major UK airport "We absolutely do not tolerate violent behaviour onboard and are supporting the crew member who was subject to this unacceptable behaviour. "In line with operating procedures, this meant the flight capacity had to be reduced and so we sought volunteers not to travel who we rebooked on alternative flights and provided hotel accommodation and compensation in line with regulations. "While this was outside of our control, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused and thank customers for their understanding." It is not understood that an arrest has been made in connection with the cabin crew attack. EasyJet told The Sun: 'Due to a passenger behaving disruptively onboard the previous flight, one of the cabin crew was unable to operate flight EZY8110 from Alicante to London Gatwick on 18th July. 'We do not tolerate this kind of unacceptable behaviour onboard and are supporting the crew member.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Alaska Airlines ground stop causes widespread US travel chaos
Americans have been warned to brace for travel chaos this morning after Alaska Airlines was forced to ground its entire fleet for more than three hours at short notice. The major airline issued an extraordinary request at 10.50pm EST to the US Federal Aviation Administration to stop all mainline flights across the United States due to a system-wide IT outage. The ground stop was initially due to last until midnight, but was extended several times as authorities grappled with the IT problem. The order was finally lifted at 2am EST despite warnings of a moderate chance it would be extended once again. Alaska Airlines admitted the ground stop would cause delays for travelers and have knock on effects into Monday. 'At approximately 8 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, Alaska Airlines experienced an IT outage that's impacting our operations,' the airline said in a statement Sunday evening. 'We requested a temporary, system-wide ground stop for Alaska and Horizon Air flights until the issue is resolved.' The airline has warned of 'residual impacts to our operation throughout the evening' amid concerns about widespread travel delays. 'If you are traveling tonight, please check the status of your flight before leaving for the airport. 'We apologize to our guests for this inconvenience.' At 10.30pm, all passengers were instructed to disembark and await further instruction, he said. Another passenger, Riley Davis, said after two and a half hours on the tarmac, he still had no indication of when he would be free to deplane. 'Since they cannot coordinate exact gates, they are manually assigning gates via radio communication,' he revealed. 'I would love to know when I can get some dinner, I'm starving.' He was inundated with comments from other travelers who said they'd noticed tarmacs around the country blocked by Alaska Airlines planes which had nowhere to go. The Alaska Airlines statement, shared to X at least two hours after the crisis began, has been swamped with confused and furious customers demanding answers as they await further instruction at airports across the nation. 'My son, a minor flying accompanied, is stranded on one of your planes right now. I will never let him fly Alaska Airlines again,' one furious mom wrote. 'We've been sitting on the tarmac for over an hour and being told it's going to be another hour of sitting here with stagnant air smelling gasoline. It's 10:20pm people are tired, hungry, etc. This is not okay,' another wrote. A third added: 'After a 6 hour flight, we've been sitting on the tarmac for over 2 hours.' The FAA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It comes weeks after a damning report revealed that major errors by Boeing led to a door plug flying off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max mid flight, putting the lives of 175 passengers and crew at risk. The National Transportation Safety Board said a flawed manufacturing process within Boeing and insufficient regulatory oversight caused the near catastrophic disaster. 'An accident like this only happens when there are multiple system failures,' NTSB chairman Jennifer Homendy said. The NTSB has been investigating what went so wrong just six minutes into the January 2024 flight from Portland, Oregon, to Ontario, California. The initial probe found four key bolts that were meant to hold the door plug in place were were missing from the aircraft. It has since been established the door left Boeing's factory in Renton, Washington without those crucial bolts. Just one of those bolts, if properly secured, would have held the door panel in place, and the other three were supposed to be used as an additional safety mechanism. No fault was found with Alaska Airlines crew qualifications or preflight inspections. The heroic actions of the crew of Alaska Airlines flight 1282 ensured everyone survived, Homendy found.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Delta flight sparks travel chaos and a ground stop after landing at JFK
A technical fault on board an incoming Delta flight has caused travel chaos at New York City 's busiest airport. The incoming flight from Rome triggered a ground stop and closed runways at John F. Kennedy Airport on Friday afternoon. The jet sparked panic after coming in to land with faulty hydraulics, per information from the Federal Aviation Administration. 'Delta Air Lines Flight 183 landed safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 1.30pm local time on Friday, July 18, after the crew reported a hydraulic issue,' the FAA said. Flight crew on the Airbus A330-300 with 266 customers onboard reported a hydraulic system issue, a Delta spokesperson told The crew declared an emergency to receive priority handling from Air Traffic Control and landed safely. The runway was temporarily closed during the incident, and passengers were able to disembark from the plane, according to CBS News New York. The aircraft was towed to its arrival gate where customers deplaned and is being evaluated by maintenance teams. 'Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, and that's why our flight crew and JFK team followed standard procedures to bring this aircraft safely to its arrival gate,' a Delta spokesperson said. The Port Authority told the local news station that there was 'minimal impact' on overall airport activity, and the ground stop was lifted around 2.30pm. 'Operations are normal after the FAA briefly slowed arrivals and departures at the airport because the aircraft was disabled on the runway,' the FAA said. It comes as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey — the agency that oversees airports and bridges around the city — is urging flyers to take the train if they're heading to JFK this summer. 'We are once again asking travelers to leave their cars at home and take public transit to the airport,' Kevin O'Toole, the agency's chairman, said. 'Yes, there will be some temporary inconvenience. But it's all part of building an airport our region can be proud of — for decades to come.' JFK, New York's busiest airport, is in the middle of a $19 billion overhaul that will stretch through the summer. Port Authority says the project is about to hit a 'peak.' At the same time, the agency is also expecting record-setting crowds during popular travel months.
