Gatwick Airport to cut summer flights amid staff shortages

London Gatwick Airport (LGW) will reduce the number of flights ahead of the summer peak due to staff shortages. 

The number of daily flights from Gatwick will be cut to 825 in July and 850 in August. Normally, the airport handles 900 flights per day.  

In its press release, Gatwick said it will be gradually increasing the maximum number of flights over time. 

“We are also working closely with our airlines to avoid disruption to passengers this summer, and while more newly recruited staff will start work in coming weeks, we know it will be a busy summer,” Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport said. 

Wingate added: “However, it is clear that during the Jubilee week a number of companies operating at the airport struggled in particular, because of staff shortages. By taking decisive action now, we aim to help the ground handlers – and also our airlines – to better match their flying programmes with their available resources.” 

Gatwick said it had recruited 400 new employees to maintain smooth passenger service throughout the summer.   

During the first half of 2022, a total of 10 million passengers traveled through London Gatwick.  

The UK’s busiest airports, including Gatwick, have been facing long queues as well as numerous flight cancellations and delays due to recent staff shortages.  

The aviation sector is facing staffing problems after a large number of employees were placed on furlough during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a subsequent increase in air travel demand before this year's summer peak period.