TUI issues travel update to Brits with cancelled flights
TUI has issued a travel update to Brits who have had their flights cancelled in recent weeks.
The tour operator has been forced to cancel hundreds of flights this month, working out to around six flights a day.
TUI's Managing Director Andrew Flintham sent an email to customers following the recent days of flight chaos.
He said in the email: "In recent weeks, you will have read in the news, or seen on social media, that the travel industry as a whole has been affected by delays and cancellations.
"I know that our customers work hard for their valuable time away, which is why we always do everything in our power to deliver a fantastic holiday.
"TUI holidays rely on a complex ecosystem of services. This includes our own pilots and cabin crew, as well as operational partners that cover things like check-in, baggage and catering. Alongside that, we work closely with air traffic control and airport security teams. Our planes cannot take to the skies when the ecosystem is not working as it should be.
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"Over the first weekend of the May half term, the ecosystem experienced capacity issues that impacted some of our customers. In some instances, customers were subject to delays and – in rare cases – cancellations.
"These customers had a poor experience – for that, and the distress caused by the cancellations, I apologise."
However, he said that they have "learnt" about their mistakes, and were "working closely" to prevent the issues which caused the delays and strikes.
He continued: "I’d also like to reassure you that situations like this are rare – this week, the vast majority of our flights have operated normally, and over 200,000 customers took off to enjoy their TUI holiday as planned."
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Flintham also said that passengers were being issued alternative holidays or refunds, adding that TUI will "never leave you stranded overseas".
It's not just TUI being affected - easyJet has had to cancel hundreds more flights this month.
And British Airways pre-emptively cancelled 16,000 flights between March and October.
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Just a few days ago, easyJet pilots warned Brits to expect "frightening" disruption levels this summer, with more flight cancellations.
Amidst the latest travel chaos, Martin Lewis' has issued fresh advice to customers that they are due an alternative flight or full refund if their flights have been cancelled or delayed.
