After Waiting 2 Years... 'Post-COVID Aftershock' Predicts This Summer's Aviation Crisis

Travelers crowding at the airport. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] As we enter the post-COVID-19 era and travel demand rises again, foreign media have reported concerns about an aviation crisis this summer holiday season.

According to the British daily The Guardian, on the 5th (local time), London Gatwick Airport was crowded with travelers. This was due to nearly 150 flight cancellations leaving passengers stranded.

British low-cost airline easyJet canceled 80 flights departing from places such as Barcelona and Madrid in Spain, Nice in France, and Geneva in Switzerland on that day alone. The company apologized through a notice, stating that it would extend customer service hours and assist with accommodations if necessary.

This appears to have occurred because the aviation industry has been unable to resolve staffing shortages. According to the media, in the UK, international travel restrictions lifted in March led to a surge in travel demand, but airlines and airports have not been able to match their staffing levels accordingly. There is insufficient personnel to respond to this or to handle unexpected situations arising during this process.

In fact, over the past two years, as travel demand froze due to the COVID-19 pandemic, about 30,000 people were laid off from UK airlines alone. easyJet, which experienced a large-scale cancellation crisis, also reduced its workforce by 10%. Gatwick Airport currently employs 40% fewer staff directly than before the pandemic. Even when trying to replenish staff, the industry explains that soaring labor costs make it difficult.

Moreover, confusion has escalated as it coincides with the nationwide holiday season. The 'Platinum Jubilee' holiday commemorating the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's accession ended on this day, and the mid-term school holidays in England and Wales overlapped, causing a sudden influx of travelers.

The situation in the United States is similar. During the Memorial Day holiday on May 30, over 7,000 flights were canceled in bulk. Delta Air Lines even announced plans to reduce more than 100 flights per day during the summer vacation to minimize chaos.

At the end of last month, at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada, half of the flights displayed delays on the electronic board. Scenes of travelers lining up in long queues were easily spotted in various places. CNN reported that last week at Dublin Airport in Ireland, many passengers missed their flights due to long waiting lines. As a result, the airport director was summoned by government authorities.

Meanwhile, the aviation crisis is expected to worsen globally as the peak summer holiday season approaches. According to the UK Financial Times (FT), Eurocontrol, which manages air traffic control across Europe, has already warned that several European countries will struggle to handle all scheduled flights this summer and urged a review of flight schedules.