Passengers face chaotic trips as flight disruption sweeps Europe

Marivi Wright’s “vacation from hell” began when Air France’s computer systems went down and staff had to check in passengers on her flight from New York to Europe by hand. She missed two connecting flights as she flew through Paris to Spain to visit her 83-year-old mother, landing in Malaga 12 hours late. Her luggage was nowhere to be seen. “My mum has dementia and this was my time to sit with her to go through pictures,” said Wright, explaining that those were in the missing bag. “I spent time buying clothes at the airport or filling claims . . . That’s time with my mum that I’ll never get back. I’m emotionally drained,” she added. Wright is one of millions of passengers who have endured a chaotic summer getaway as flight cancellations and disruptions have swept across Europe. The problems stem from chronic staff shortages across many parts of the aviation industry, including airlines, airports and ground-handling companies, which are subcontracted to provide services including check-in and baggage handling. As coronavirus travel restrictions were lifted and many planned their first trips in two years, demand has rebounded faster than the industry has been able to hire new staff. Outbreaks of industrial action have added to the problems, including a pilot strike at the Scandinavian airline SAS that contributed to it filing for bankruptcy this month. “There are problems right across airports in Europe,” said Akbar Al Baker, CE of Qatar Airways. “We face the same problems in France . . . Belgium, Holland, Germany. Actually it’s an epidemic.” Passengers have also endured unquantified delays, queues and lost luggage as the industry has been unable to handle the sheer number of passengers.<br/>