Hoping to avoid this summer’s airport chaos by jetting off for an autumn getaway? Well, we’ve got some bad news. The passenger cap at London’s Heathrow Airport has been extended all the way until October 29.
Heathrow’s cap was introduced in July and was originally set to expire on September 11. The idea behind the 100,000-passengers-per-day cap was that it would help the airport reduce levels of queuing, cancellations and lost baggage – all of which have plagued airports around the world since mass air travel resumed earlier this year.
Heathrow isn’t the only airport limiting flights, either: both London Gatwick and Amsterdam Schiphol have also enforced similar measures in order to increase punctuality and reliability. In slightly better news, British Airways’ temporary ban on the sale of short-haul flights – which was also intended to reduce cancellations and delays – has now ended.
In the UK, the extended cap means it’ll now cover the half-term holidays, which lasts from October 24 to 28. Anyone hoping to get away can likely expect higher demand (and therefore higher prices) for flights from Heathrow. If you’ve already booked, keep an eye on your flight status for updates.
ICYMI: here are 10 ways to make sure you avoid holiday hell this summer.