The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) together with the Department for Transport have issued a joint letter to the aviation industry saying carriers should “take all possible steps to prepare for and manage passenger demand” to “avoid the unacceptable scenes we have recently witnessed”.
The letter calls on the industry to take action on some key points:
Airlines need to “develop a schedule that is deliverable” taking account of resources that are really available as well as being “resilient for the unplanned and inevitable operational challenges that you will face”.
Airlines should make any cancellations well in advance where unavoidable.
Airport chief executives need to bring together representatives from all areas – including ground handlers, airlines, air traffic controllers, border forces and concession operators so they can “work collaboratively on resilience planning and assurance as a system” rather than on their own.
The letter warns the CAA will now not hesitate to enforce regulations “If there is evidence that an airline is systematically letting consumers down when it comes to those rights”
Following a recent spate of high profile stories regarding disabled passengers having long waits to be helped off aircraft or left at airports the CAA has also communicated to the industry asking them to address the issue. “The CAA has separately written a letter to all airports and airlines highlighting some specific concerns about the assistance service for disabled and less mobile passengers and the importance of immediate improvements.” The letter says.
“We look forward to working with you to get the UK aviation system back where it belongs as a world leading, strategically important industry that we can all be very proud of.”
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