British Airways flights cancelled including Gatwick

Around 5,000 BA short-haul flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City Airport have also been cancelled over the winter period – around 8 per cent of the airline’s flights up to March 2023.

BA has also cancelled 629 short-haul round trips up to October 29, after Heathrow Airport extended its 100,000 daily passenger limit due to staff shortages.

The airline said those affected by the cancellations would be contacted by them and given an alternative flight or a refund.

A spokesman for BA said: “Following Heathrow’s decision to extend its passenger cap, we’re making adjustments to our short-haul schedule for the next two months.

“While the vast majority of our customers will travel as planned and we’re protecting key holiday destinations over half term, we will need to make some further cancellations up to the end of October.

Thousands of BA flights have been cancelled. Picture from PA (Image: PA)

“In addition, we’re giving customers travelling with us this winter notice of some adjustments to our schedule, which will include consolidating some of our short-haul flights to destinations with multiple services.

“We’ll be offering customers affected by any of these changes an alternative flight with British Airways or another airline or the option of a refund.”

In June, EasyJet confirmed it was cutting flights at Gatwick Airport in response to a cap introduced by the airport.

It said it wants to “build additional resilience” as the aviation sector across Europe is experiencing “operational issues”.

In July, Heathrow Airport imposed a passenger cap until September 11, meaning airlines had to cancel flights and limit seats on some journeys.

On August 15, the west London airport extended the cap until October 29.

BA flight capacity has been reduced overall by around 13% between May and October this year.

Other airlines are also expected to make cancellations over the next two months.