UK launches aviation charter to address airport disruption

London, July 17 (BNA) The British government launched the “Airline Passengers Charter” today, Sunday, to help travelers know their rights if they encounter problems at airports after the widespread turmoil this year.

Long queues and canceled flights due to staff shortages have sometimes caused chaos, prompting airlines to scale back their schedules as the industry struggles to keep up with the surge in demand after the COVID-19 pandemic, Reuters reports.

The government said the new charter will help passengers know what to do if they encounter cancellations, delays or lost baggage, with guidance on how to file a complaint if they feel they have been treated unfairly.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Passengers deserve reliable services and adequate compensation if things don’t go as planned, and the chaotic scenes we’ve seen at airports are unacceptable.”

“The new charter will help give UK passengers peace of mind as they enjoy renewed freedom to travel, whether for holidays, work or to visit loved ones.”

Last month, the government published a 22-point support plan to avert further disruption, including requiring airlines to operate “realistic” summer schedules and pledging to speed up security checks. She said these are now being processed in “record time”.

In a sign of the problems, London Heathrow Airport this week told airlines to stop selling tickets for summer departures and capped the number of passengers flying from Britain’s busiest hubs at 100,000 per day.