Airline forced to cancel hundreds of flights until June affecting thousands

HUNDREDS of flights have been cancelled this summer, leaving thousands of passengers unable to travel on their scheduled trips.

Budget airline Transavia has had to ground a number of its journeys due to its aircraft being repaired, or damaged by lightning strikes.

Earlier this month, the Dutch carrier announced that 5 per cent of flights would be scrapped, with journeys in both May and June most affected.

The exact number of flights cancelled is yet to be revealed.

However, the airline hopes that by making announcements now, it will be able to provide greater clarity to passengers and travel agents, rather than leaving it until the last minute.

Nevertheless, it has left travel organisations struggling to reduce the impact on holidaymakers, with thousands due to be hindered.

Some travel companies are trying to make alternative bookings for their passengers, but not all are in a position to be changed.

Meanwhile, some other flights due to fly this weekend have also been cancelled, leaving some people stranded at late notice.

A spokesperson for the sector’s umbrella organisation ANVR told Dutch broadcaster : “We are disappointed that we learned so late that these flights were canceled.

“If we had known this a few weeks ago we could have rebooked customers, but now it’s all hands on deck.”

Among those trying to reschedule flights for people is TUI, who have expressed disappointment at the situation.

A spokesperson told : “We are doing everything to ensure that as many vacations as possible go ahead as planned.”

The main problem has arisen from the airline’s new planes not being ready.

The carrier was meant to have five new planes ready to join its fleet before May, but three of those are not currently ready to fly.

Transavia’s operational director Marloes van Laake told current affairs programme Nieuws en Co that this was one of the main reasons that they cannot fulfil their schedule going into the summer.

She also explained that some planes cannot be used because the airline is waiting for parts for maintenance work, which have been delayed, while others are unavailable because of damage caused by lightning.

She added: “All this means we have fewer planes to work with. If we could have foreseen it we would have been able to deal with it.”

In total, seven of Transavia’s planes are unable to fly for the time being.

The carrier expects the problems to be solved in time for the busy July and August holiday season.

It’s not the first time the airline has cancelled summer flights, with more than 300 grounded last June.

Again, that was due to a “shortage of planes as well as maintenance problems”.

Cancelled flights aren’t the only thing that could disrupt people’s holiday plans this weekend either.

Airline Jet2 has warned people about travelling over Easter due to bad weather.

Anyone heading to the Portuguese island of Madeira could have their trip ruined by unexpectedly poor conditions.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has issued warnings of “intense rain or showers” throughout the Easter break, from March 28-31.

Additionally, wind speeds of up to 62mph have also been predicted in other parts of the country.

One report suggested there is even a chance of snow arriving by Friday, following a drop in temperature.

Meanwhile, these are your rights for when your flight is cancelled.

And this is how to claim compensation if there’s any travel delays.