Easter holiday travel chaos: COPS to control frustrated passengers at airports on Saturday for ‘busiest day of the year’

COPS are set to be drafted in to control frustrated passengers at airports on Saturday on what could be the busiest travel day of the year so far.

Holidaymakers are bracing for mayhem as they hope to jet away for the Easter holiday – with chaotic scenes already pictured at airports this week as huge queues build.

LNPPassengers in Manchester have been forced to wait in long queues[/caption]

w8mediaEasyJet and British Airways have already been forced to cancel hundreds of flights due to staffing issues[/caption]

The post-Covid rush and staff shortages are wreaking havoc as families trying to get away, with flights cancelled and delays.

Passengers have been left queueing for hours at airports to get through security, but it’s feared the situation will worsen on Saturday as people arrive home and others set off for an Easter break.

Police are to be drafted in to Manchester Airport this weekend to help solve the crisis after the boss quit after days of travel chaos and warnings passengers will face delays for months to come.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports, confirmed this week that managing director Karen Smart has decided to leave the business after eight years.

But despite her decision to bail, there’ll be no respite for customers desperate to get away.

Long queues and delays could continue for months as a result of Covid staff shortages and a slow return to recruitment.

General secretary of pilots union BALPA Martin Chalk said: “The chaos witnessed at British airports may well be repeated throughout the summer because airlines, laden with debt, have not yet rehired enough staff.”

He added that he “warned ministers” of Easter disruption, but nothing was done to prevent it.

Manchester Airport has blamed their delays on staffing issues, when holidaymakers were seen “jumping over barriers” and trays piling up at security scanners over the weekend.

Meanwhile, easyJet and British Airways have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights this week, due to staffing issues.