Holiday travelers to and from Europe wait in serpentine queues, and passengers are forced to scramble for luggage and even sleep on airport floors due to inordinate delays. The unprecedented disruption at airports in Europe is attributed to a shortage of staff and strikes. Long delays and queues have been reported at major airports in the UK such as Heathrow, Manchester, and Gatwick. Hubs and carriers across Europe are experiencing similar issues. All these countries are reporting problems as global air traffic is subject to intense strain due to strikes, shortage of staff, and growing demand for international travel.
Staff Shortage in European Airline Industry
The summer of 2022, which was meant to signal the end of a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resumption of normal air travel, runs the risk of being remembered as the summer when the high-volume, low-cost air travel paradigm failed, at least in the vast, integrated market of Europe. The strikes and shortage of labor in spring 2022 disrupted activities in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt. According to Air Transport Action Group, the industry lobbying group, the global aviation industry reported a massive loss of jobs during the pandemic, with the ground-handling and security segments suffering the most. Many people are reluctant to rejoin the workforce, as they are drawn to the gig economy or are choosing early retirement.
Countries in Europe Most Affected
Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted airports are dealing with a shortage of staff owing to layoffs brought on by the pandemic, which prompted weeks of delays, cancellations, and long queues at airports throughout the British capital. Hamburg Airport struggled to keep "stuck" luggage in the week ending July 8, while travelers at Düsseldorf and Cologne airports in Germany reported long queues at security checkpoints. The effect the pandemic had on staffing has compelled German authorities to hire a large number of people from across Europe.
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