Thousands of flights have been canceled in the summer in Europe and the situation does not seem to be easing – what is the cause of the chaos and how should a passenger prepare?

Severe labor shortages have led to exceptional congestion at European airports. A holidaymaker should now prepare for long queues and even flight cancellations in Europe.

Where are the congestions and what should the passenger be prepared for? We asked Helsinki-Vantaa Airport Development Director From Sami Kiiskinen and Chairman of the Civil Aviation Workers Association From Sami Rajala.

The reasons are labor shortages and strikes. Meanwhile, many want to travel after a break of a few years.

While people have a severe travel fever after a corona pandemic, many airports are suffering from labor shortages. At major European airports, passenger numbers have risen to roughly the same level as before the pandemic.

In Finland, airport staff were laid off during the pandemic, but in Europe, many airports and many airlines had to lay off large numbers of workers. Many of those made redundant have now ended up working in other fields, and there are not enough staff, for example, to sort luggage or carry out security checks.

The airlines favored by Finns have canceled flights a little, but in Europe hundreds of flights have been canceled every day.

The airlines favored by Finns, such as Finnair or Norwegian, have had to cancel flights only a few times, says Rajala. According to Rajala, the most problems have been in the fields of Manchester, London, Dublin and Amsterdam, for example.

Before the onset of the pandemic in Europe, flight punctuality was around 90%. During the worst peak days of this summer, about 30–40 percent of the flights have been flown, Rajala says.

Airplanes have certain time limits when it is their turn to take off. Therefore, even a small delay can confuse air traffic, says Rajala.

You should make an appointment at the airport. A direct flight is a safer option for the traveler.

Each airline will give you instructions on how to arrive at the airport on time. In addition to this, it is worth following the airports’ own information channels, such as websites, says Kiiskinen, Director of Development.

The general guideline is that you should now set aside more time at the airport due to congestion – especially if you have more luggage with you.

Direct flights may now be a safer option than connecting flights, as there are many cancellations and delays in Europe.

At Helsinki-Vantaa, the security check may have had to wait longer than usual.

At Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, congestion has been caused by a shortage of labor during security checks. During the busiest days and moments in June, passengers have had to queue for an inspection for about an hour, says Kiiskinen, the airport’s development director. Therefore, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport earlier.

On most days, however, the queues have been less than half an hour. The busiest moments at the security checkpoint are early morning and afternoon.

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport now has 50,000 passengers a day. Before the pandemic, the number was around 70,000 during the busiest summer days. However, peak times this summer are already at pre-pandemic levels.

Before the pandemic, the airport was an important route between Europe and Asia, but the number of tourists traveling through Finland has decreased due to Russian sanctions.

Butter. If your flight is canceled or delayed, you should first contact the airline.

For example, questions about luggage should be directed to the airline.

Compensation is paid on a case-by-case basis. The premise is that compensation can be obtained for cancellations or delays of a few hours if the reason is not the passenger. If, on the other hand, you arrive too late at the airport, you may not be able to get your money back.

Not necessarily. Holidays for Europeans could worsen the situation in late summer.

Central and southern Europeans are on holiday in July-August, when air traffic is likely to see even tougher congestion – despite the fact that airports are now trying hard to hire more workers.

Congestion may also affect Finnish flights and flight punctuality. At airports, waiting times can be further extended, says Rajala.

What thoughts did the story provoke? You can discuss the topic until 11 pm on June 30, 2022.