The European airports at ‘risk of collapse’ this summer – with holidaymakers facing travel chaos
A NUMBER of airports in Europe are at ‘risk of collapsing’ due to the high volume of travellers this summer, experts have warned.
Spanish airports are expecting a record-breaking year, with higher figures than pre-pandemic in 2019.
According to the Asociación de Líneas Aéreas (ALA), there will be three per cent more seats on Spanish flights this summer – an increase from 213 million to 219 million.
However, this surge in tourists is likely to put a strain on airports, which saw huge chaos last year across Europe, local media reports.
Massive queues and delayed flights plagued holidaymakers last year, with many missing their flights or having to pay extra for new ones.
Airlines were forced to cut capacity to avoid any further problems, which is continuing this summer.
Amsterdam Schipol Airport confirmed that will limit international flights, with reductions affecting the winter 2023 schedule as well as the summer 2024 schedule.
And German airline Lufthansa confirmed that they had to “adjust its summer flight schedule,” with more than 34,000 flights scrapped this summer.
ALA president Javier Gándara warned: “Spain has been a model of good management after the pandemic, but this situation could have a lot of indirect repercussions for us.”
And French air traffic control strikes have already caused cause across Europe, affecting flights in both the UK and Spain.
According to a Eurocontrol report, the strikes would affect Spain the most, with more than 400 delayed flights and a 63 per cent increase in cancellations.
And the Madrid Federation of Travel Agencies (FEMAV) is calling for urgent action to avoid the mayhem of last summer at the busy Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.
They say chaos is on the cards and more missed flights for the army of passengers who pass through the airport, including millions of Brits.
Here is how much you are owed if your flight is delayed or cancelled.