British Airways (BA/BAW) has said it will remove 10,300 more flights that were due to operate between August and October bringing the total for the year to 30,000.
Shot-haul flights from London Heathrow, Gatwick, and London City Airport will be affected by the cuts which are aimed at easing the schedule to cope with staff shortages.
A spokesperson for the airline said: “The whole aviation industry continues to face into significant challenges and we’re completely focused on building resilience into our operation to give customers the certainty they deserve”
British Airways is making the cuts in an effort to avoid the kind of chaos seen over school holidays with long delays and last-minute cancellations.
The announcement was also timed to coincide with the deadline for the Department for Transport’s (DfT) slot amnesty which allows airlines to give up slots they won’t use without being penalised.
British Airways anticipates that the majority of its flights will operate as normal but added: “we don’t underestimate the impact this will have and we’re doing everything we can to get their travel plans back on track”.
Customers who are affected by the cuts are being contacted by the airline and offered alternative flights or a full refund.