Brits aiming to travel this half-term and summer are being warned to expect delays, after new data suggests that 2024 will reach record-high flight cancellations.
New data suggest the amount of scheduled flights cancelled will rise by 25% in 2024, compared to 2023, potentially spelling misery for those hoping to jet away this year.
According to AirAdvisor, 2024 is expected to be the busiest year for air travel. CEO and international aviation lawyer, Anton Radchenko said that cancellations and other disruptions will present "potentially the single biggest challenge for airlines and air passengers".
In regard to the upcoming half-term holidays, Anton warned: "The high influx of travellers at airports will break all records this summer. There's the Paris Olympics, so a lot of Brits will be flying there too, substantially increasing the congestion at airports."
The International Trade Administration expects 4.7 billion people to travel in 2024, a record high that exceeds pre-pandemic travel, which was recorded as 4.5 billion in 2019. "With so many flights, air traffic control will run into managerial problems and disruptions will be high," he added.
Has your holiday been ruined by a cancelled flight? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com
Delays aren't only exclusive to flights — there can also be delays when passing through security — which are expected to rise this summer due to the 100ml liquid rules getting scrapped. "Since most airports will miss the 1st June deadline of installing CT scanners, travellers will be confused if the rules will still apply. This will lead to chaos, eventually resulting in flight delays," Anton said.
A record year for cancellations was 2022, when 2.3% of flights were scrapped amid restrictions and uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus outbreak and restrictions. "While the sector got back on track last year, we expect the sheer demand for travel in 2024, in addition to other factors like airport and airline strikes, staffing shortages and extreme weather to place strain on the industry," Anton added.
AirAdvisor expects the percentage of flights cancelled in 2024 to reach 1.5%, up from 1.2% in 2023. Analysis by the flight compensation experts used data from the Department of Transport, the International Air Transport Association and the International Trade Administration.
When travellers experience a flight delay or cancellation, they should do what they can to find out the cause, in case you need to argue for a refund or compensation.
“You can ask airline or airport staff for answers, but when you get one, remember to make note of it. You’ll need as much evidence as possible to support a compensation claim if you choose to file one," he explained.
“Also, save all your receipts if you have to purchase anything as a result of your cancellation or delay. You can submit these to the airline for reimbursement.
"I often see passengers being negligent about their rights due to which they face a lot of problems and lose money. Educate yourself from genuine sources like the Civil Aviation Authority and be prepared."
Travellers can also visit the airlines' customer support desk at airports. "I've observed that most passengers assume that they won't find any help, so they hardly ever contact customer support. I know airlines' customer service is at an all-time low and they do their best to distract you from getting compensated, but you need to be authoritative and stand your ground," Anton continued.
Check out more of Daily Mirror's latest travel stories by signing up to our free weekly newsletter.