Planes flights and airlines

GOING away with just hand luggage seems easy until you realise all the airlines have different policies on exactly what hand luggage is allowed.

While we all know budget airlines are some of the strictest, other airlines could still catch you out with a hidden fee at the airport.

So we’ve explained everything you need to know about taking a suitcase with some of the UK’s major airlines.

Read on for the current rules for Ryanair, easyJet, TUI, British Airways, Wizz Air Jet2 and Virgin Atlantic.

Easyjet

All easyJet passengers are allowed to bring one small underseat bag per person on board for free, measuring up to 45 x 36 x 20cm and weighing up to 15kg.

Currently, if you want a cabin bag measuring up to 56 x 45 x 25cm, you’ll need to pay extra for it.

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The price for this depends on demand, the route, your flight date and the time of booking.

Though if you get to the gate and haven’t paid for a cabin bag but have one with you, you will be charged £60.

Wizz Air

Each passenger can bring onboard a small bag measuring a maximum of 40 x 30 x 20cm and weighing a maximum of 10kg with Wizz Air.

The bag must fit under the seat in front of you.

However, it does state on the airline’s website that you can also carry onboard a coat or blanket, mobile phone, reading material for the flight, and duty-free items for free.

But a neck pillow is not included in this, and must fit in your cabin baggage allowance.

Currently, if you want a cabin bag weighing up to 10kg and measuring a maximum of 55 x 40 x 23cm, you will need to purchase this through Wizz Priority.

This will set you back between £12.85 and £89.98 during the low season and between £17.14 and £98.55 during the high season.

Ryanair

Each passenger can take a small bag on board that measures a maximum of 40 x 30 x 20cm.

It must fit under the seat in front of you and be a handbag, laptop bag or backpack.

If you want a cabin bag measuring up to 55 x 40 x 20cm, then you will need to purchase this.

This will cost you between £12 and £36 at the time of booking, or between £20 and £60 when at the airport.

Jet2

All Jet2 passengers are entitled to a 10kg cabin bag, measuring a maximum of 56 x 45 x 25cm and a small under seat bag measuring a maximum of 40 x 30 x 20cm.

On busy flights, Jet2 may ask to put your cabin bag in hold and if your bag is too big or heavy, you could be charged £45.

TUI

On TUI flights, passengers can each take one cabin bag weighing up to 10kg and measuring a maximum of 55 x 40 x 20cm and a handbag measuring up to 40 x 30 x 20cm.

If a bag exceeds the weight limit, you will be charged £60 per 15kg bag.

British Airways

With British Airways‘ basic economy fare, each passenger is entitled to one handbag measuring a maximum of 40 x 30 x 15cm and one cabin bag measuring a maximum of 56 x 45 x 25cm.

Your handbag must fit under the seat in front of you and your cabin bag must not have any valuables, electronics or essential medicines inside it.

If your cabin luggage is too big or heavy, British Airways might put it in the hold.

Though, you will have to pay a fee for this, which is usually £65 per bag, per way.

Virgin Atlantic

With Virgin Atlantic, each passenger in economy light is allowed to have one cabin bag weighing up to 10kg and measuring a maximum of 23 × 36 × 56cm as well as an underseat bag such as a handbag or small rucksack measuring a maximum of 40cm x 30cm x 15cm.

Your under seat bag must fit under the seat in front of you and any bags that are over the allowance could get a £65 charge as well as being placed in the hold.

A UK airport has been given official approval for its planned expansion that will see it DOUBLE passengers numbers.

Its other plans include a brand-new terminal and expanding the existing one too.

London Luton Airport has now cleared all legal hurdles in order to expand in a £2.4billion project.

The initial plans were first approved by the government in April 2025.

Then on July 31, the Supreme Court declined to grant campaigners final permission to appeal – meaning the plans can go-ahead unopposed.

Now, the airport is set to build a new terminal as well as work on its existing one so that it can welcome up to 32million passengers by 2043.

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Flights will increase to 209,000 flights per year from its current average between 65,000 to 68,000.

Last year, Luton was UK’s fifth-busiest airport and saw 17.5million passengers.

The expansion will also create 11,000 new jobs at the airport, with 4,400 of those in the town itself.

Paul Kehoe, chair of Luton Rising which owns Luton Airport, called clearing it a “landmark moment”.

He said: “We are very pleased to now have the certainty we have been working towards.

“As a community-owned organisation, every passenger travelling through our airport means more investment in local people and services.”

Last year, London Luton won the award for the ‘Best Low-Cost Airline Terminal 2025′ by Skytrax.

Based on passenger satisfaction and overall experience, Luton Airport was been crowned the best terminal in the UK for budget airlines.

The airport is home to airlines like Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air.

It then welcomed airline Jet2 to the airport with 17 new routes at its start in April last year.

And throughout the month of August this year, London Luton Airport has launched free bus travel for any passenger travelling to the terminal.

A SUMMER of free bus travel for under 16s has started in the UK and one major airport is now offering free trips too.

To encourage passengers to leave their cars behind, bus travel will be completely free to and from the terminal for all holidaymakers throughout August.

London Luton Airport in Bedfordshire will operate buses throughout the day dropping passengers right outside without having to pay a fare.

This falls under the ‘Fly and Ride’ scheme where passengers can travel free on a range of Arriva and Stagecoach services.

All travellers have to do is show a valid printed or digital boarding pass for a flight departing from London Luton Airport during August.

The offer is valid on Arriva routes 101, X1, X2, X3, X4, A and Z.

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It’s also valid on Stagecoach’s MK1, which covers the nearby towns of Stevenage, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Bedford and Dunstable.

The free journey will count from any stop between August 1-31.

Return journeys must be completed by August 31 to qualify.

The offer does not include National Express and Greenline services.

August is the busiest month for most airports and last year 1.8million holidaymakers travelled through Luton Airport.

This was a five per cent increase from the year before, according to the CAA.

Alberto Martin, CEO of London Luton Airport, said: “This is a fantastic initiative and a great example of how we continually look to extend our simple and friendly passenger experience far beyond the terminal doors.

“As we prepare for our busiest summer on record, we’re delighted to offer passengers the opportunity to leave the car at home, take advantage of excellent local bus services and travel to the airport for free.”

This comes after part of the new government scheme where under 16s can get on bus for no cost as part of the government’s Great British Summer Saving scheme.

Child fares typically cost between £1 and £2 so families will be able to save on the cost of travel.

The scheme is running from now until August 31.

GATWICK Airport is set to get a second runway by the end of the decade.

Plans for the new runway have received a huge boost today, after campaigner against the plans lost their bid to challenge it.

The airport expansion was approved back in September and is set to cost £2.2billion.

It will involve moving the airport’s emergency runway 12 metres north and as a result, the airport will be able to host an extra 100,000 flights a year.

The new runway is set to have planes taking off by the end of the decade.

In a ruling on Tuesday, Lord Justice Holgate and Lord Justice Dove dismissed campaigners’ bids against the new runway.

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They said: “We conclude that each of the grounds of appeal raised by each appellant is unarguable.

“Neither appeal has a real prospect of success. We also consider that there are no other compelling reasons for either appeal to be heard.”

Gatwick Airport is the second busiest airport in the UK and has one of the busiest runways in the world.

The runway will be used mainly for more narrow-bodied planes, such as Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.

Campaigners argued that the Government has not properly assessed the climate impact of an additional runway.

They also commented that there is no need for an expansion at Gatwick Airport, considering Heathrow is not too far away.

ONE airport in Europe has just become the most busy on the continent – beating London Heathrow’s record.

It’s about to get even busier too as it’s preparing to open a fourth runway later this year.

In the hope to get up to 200million passengers by 2028, Istanbul Airport in Turkey is increasing the amount of runways it has from three to four.

Kadri Samsunlu, the CEO of İGA revealed the fourth runway was being been constructed at the cost £428million, according to local media.

At the moment, the hub has a rare triple runway – and it was the first hub in Europe to have one.

Essentially, it means the airport can have three flights take off or land at the same time.

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As a result, it increases the airport’s hourly traffic capacity from 120 to 148 aircraft movements.

The airport recently saw a record-breaking number of passengers through its doors with 289,260 people passing through the hub on August 1, 2026.

That makes it even busier than London Heathrow, which saw exactly 270,869 passengers in 24 hours.

Istanbul Airport handled a total of 39.92 million passengers in January-June.

These figures show an increase from 39.25 million in the same period of last year, according to data from the General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ).

Istanbul Airport is the second airport in the city and officially opened in late October 2018, before becoming fully operational in April 2019.

It was even announced as being the ‘world best’ in 2024, according to Travel + Leisure.

Inside, the airport has sleep pods for anyone with a layover who wants to take a nap.

It also has business pods for those needing to take work calls.

For passengers aged between 15 and 30 years old, there is a Youth Lounge Area with lots to do, it has a PlayStation, music, snacks and four hours of free Wi-Fi.

The airport even has its own spa offering wellness treatments and massages and TV-viewing areas as well as a museum and library.

What is it like to travel through Istanbul Airport?

THE Sun’s Assitant Travel Editor Sophie Swietochowski visited the airport in 2024 – here’s what she found…

“If there’s one airport I wouldn’t mind being seriously delayed in, it’s Istanbul in Turkey.

“The place is vast and shiny with enough food (for any budget), shopping (think chic clothes and hand-painted kitchenware), and entertainment (there’s even a library home to 2,000 books) to keep you occupied for hours on end.

“Better still, if your flight gets cancelled you won’t even need to endure the faff of security again as the large Yotel sits airside.

“I visited last year and couldn’t have been more grateful for the size of the place, meaning I could whizz straight past the screaming kids in the massive Lego store and head straight to the food courts where I had no problem finding a quiet seat for a drink – Çay Saati has traditional Turkish tea.

“In fact many stores in the airport blend Turkish traditions with the modern world and you could certainly get a flavour of Turkey without ever leaving the terminal.

“The size of the place comes with a downside, though. Make sure you keep an eye out for your gate as it will take you a while to walk there – and try not to get lost on the way.”

A BUDGET airline is axing two of its routes from London Heathrow – less than a year after they launched.

It has said that the Iran conflict as well as rising fuel costs and restricted airspace have all contributed to its axing.

Budget airline IndiGo has announced it will suspend flights between London Heathrow and India from October 25.

At that time, it will hand back its leased aircraft to Norse Atlantic Airways.

It had provided direct routes to both Mumbai and Delhi from the London airport.

Return fares to Mumbai with IndiGo could be as little as £395.

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The airline cited the “challenging operating environment triggered by the ongoing geopolitical tensions” as well as rising fuel costs and airspace constraints as a reason for its axing.

IndiGo said it will “work closely with affected customers to offer suitable alternatives” including other travel arrangements or refunds.

The suspension of these routes is set to be temporary.

The airline explained it does plan on reinstating travel to India once it receives new aircraft – it’s waiting for new A350-900s to be delivered.

IndiGo already announced plans to stop its other routes from Manchester Airport, which is scheduled for later this month.

The two cancelled routes are to Mumbai and Delhi, which started in July 2025 and will stop flying on August 31.

IndiGo isn’t the only one to provide these routes – but did offer them at a lower price.

One-way flights between Manchester and Mumbai started from £290.

A REGIONAL UK airport has warned travellers to get to the airport early over the coming days.

Newquay Airport in Cornwall is urging all travellers to allow extra time for their journey between August 5 and 10.

The reason? Because there’s a massive festival drawing in thousands of people, happening just down the road.

Each year Boardmasters Festival brings a lot of traffic to the area and as a result, there are delays on the roads.

With the airport being close to the festival grounds, the airport expects heavier traffic and delays across the period.

Wednesday, Friday and Monday are expected to be the worst days, as this is when most people arrive at or leave the festival.

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There are also temporary road closures in place as well as one-way systems.

As a result, the airport is urging travellers with a flight at the airport to check the Boardmasters Traffic Management Plan.

This will help to understand which roads are busy and experiencing delays.

The airport also advises travellers to leave earlier than they think they need to, especially if their flight is on one of the days where traffic is expected to be busier in the area.

Around 58,000 people travel to the festival each year.

This year’s line up includes Fatboy Slim, Tinie Tempah, Lily Allen, Kasabian, Dizzee Rascal, Example, The Kooks, James Arthur and Loyle Carner.

TRAVELLERS are being warned about taking a popular everyday item on board flights.

Earlier this week, a Swiss International Air Lines flight was diverted to Bangor in Maine, America, due to smoke in the cabin.

The smoke came from a damaged headphone charging case, which had fallen between the seats and become stuck, causing it to overheat.

The plane had come from Zurich in Switzerland and was heading for JFK Airport in New York.

According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) incidents involving lithium batteries – which are found in headphone charging cases, as well as power banks – are on the rise.

Any items with lithium batteries have to go in hand luggage.

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These include:

• Power banks
• Vapes
• Bluetooth speakers
• Electric fans
• Fitness and smartwatches
• Digital cameras
• Wireless headphones & charging cases
• Tablets
• E-readers
• Laptops

The CAA has warned that if any of these cause an issue during a flight, such as overheating or starting to smoke, you should notify a member of the cabin crew as quickly as possible.

If these items aren’t packed correctly, such as in your hold luggage and not your hand luggage, there could be flight delays or cancellations as a result.

Back in May, an easyJet flight had to divert when a passenger informed crew during the flight that the portable charger was in the hold of the aircraft.

The flight was then forced to land in Rome, Italy, instead of reaching its destination, London Luton.

The CAA previously commented: “Passenger awareness remains low – over a third (36 per cent) of travellers are unaware of the dangers of packing batteries in checked baggage, even though 92 per cent fly with a mobile phone, 55 per cent with a laptop and 49 per cent with a power bank – suggesting hundreds of batteries could be incorrectly packed on a typical flight.”

According to the CAA, there are around two lithium battery incidents every week – and often, these incidents cause delays as well as diversions.

A SPANISH airport will close for nearly a week as part of a major renovation.

Almeria Airport in Spain is set to shut down for six days to upgrade its runway.

The closure is set to take place in February 2028, with all scheduled flights cancelled.

This is part of a longer 19-month €29million (£24.8million) project to upgrade the entire airport.

However, during this period there will be work at night between 10:45pm and 7:10am the following day.

Between these hours, flights will be impacted as well.

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Aena – Spain‘s airports operator – has already notified airlines that operate at the airport, including Ryanair, easyJet and Iberia.

The airlines will now have to reschedule flights or divert the routes to other airports.

Flights from Almeria Airport to the UK, including to Birmingham, London Southend, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol and Leeds Bradford.

The revamp will mark the first work on the runway in 20 years.

Other parts of the project included improving the taxiways, as well as upgrading over 600 lights and replacing 34 directional signs.

The airport is around a 15-minute drive from Almeria city centre in the Andalusia region of Spain.

Each year, the airport handles up to 800,000 passengers.

Of which, Brits make up between 55 and 70 per cent of travellers.

A POPULAR European city break destination is set to get a new airport within the next decade.

Plans are currently underway in Portugal to build a new airport near Lisbon, around 31 miles from the centre of the city.

Estimated to cost €8.9billion (£7.63billion), Luís de Camões Airport would feature two runways, with the possibility of adding two more in the future.

There will be 120 aircraft parking spots, 64 gates and 76 bridges at the airport, allowing it to handle up to 56million passengers a year, rising to 85million by 2082.

Included in the plans is also a new high speed rail network, that would connect the airport to Lisbon in 26 minutes.

The new airport would replace Humberto Delgado Airport and is planned to open in 2037, but could be as early as 2034.

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In a YouTube video showing what the new airport could look like, a spokesperson states: “From the moment you arrive at the terminal, every stage of the journey is designed to be simple, intuitive, and comfortable.

“Featuring smart, innovative solutions and technology that ensures a seamless experience with information always at hand.

“An airport that is more efficient, better connected, more intuitive, and distinctly Portuguese.”

Alongside the new airport, Portugal is investing €400million (£343million) in its existing airports including Porto, Faro and Funchal airports.

At Funchal Airport, the terminal is due to be extended.

Then at Porto there will be 14 new aircraft positions and at Faro, there will be new boarding gates as well as an expanded check-in area.

Back in March, TravelSupermarket found that the Portuguese capital was home to the cheapest five-star European city holidays, costing under £310 per person.

And in May, The Post Office Travel Money’s City Cost Barometer found Lisbon to have the second cheapest beers in Europe, costing around £2.02 a pint on average.

THERE’S nothing worse than looking forward to your summer holiday, arriving at the airport and then being told your flight is cancelled.

And now the worst flight routes for cancellations have been announced, with some of the most popular holiday hotspots coming out on top.

According to new analysis of flight data by AirAdvisor, flights between London’s key hubs and Majorca and Ibiza are most likely to be cancelled this summer.

The study looked at routes between the UK and European airports that had more than 100 flights scheduled per month.

Coming out on top is the route between London Luton and Ibiza with a cancellation rate of 5.56 per cent between June 1 and August 31.

London Heathrow to Majorca came up second worst for cancellations, at a rate of 1.6 per cent.

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Rounding out the top three is London Gatwick to Lisbon in Portugal, with a cancellation rate of 1.43 per cent.

In fact, out of the routes with the most cancellations 10 out of the top 12 are from London airports.

Bristol to Málaga came in seventh worst for cancellations, at 1.2 per cent.

This route was followed by Birmingham to Palma de Majorca, at 1.02 per cent.

Overall, four of the top 10 routes from the UK with the highest cancellation rates are to Majorca.

More than two million Brits travel to Majorca during the peak summer season, with the airport also being one of the busiest airports in Europe.

According to AirAdvisor, so far this summer 36 of 1050 flights departing from Gatwick and Heathrow airports heading to Majorca have been cancelled – which is around 3.44 per cent.

Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor said: “Cancellation risk on UK routes to Europe is not spread evenly, and this summer the Balearics are carrying a bigger share of the risk than anywhere else.

“That’s worth understanding before you travel, because a cancellation is not just a long wait at the gate. You lose your slot. Same-day options dry up quickly.

“And from that point on, the airline decides what happens next, not you.

“Under UK261, if you’re told your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure, you may be entitled to between £220 and £520 in compensation, depending on how far you were flying.”

BRITS heading to Spain are being warned to expect more strikes both this week and next week.

Baggage handlers have already staged a walkout at Palma Airport and will do so again this Saturday and again from next Tuesday.

Workers for the company Swissport, which provides baggage-handling services, are set to walk out on August 1 between 7am-12pm then again between 7pm and 10pm.

After that, an ‘indefinite strike by ground-handling workers’ is set to start on Tuesday unless an agreement is reached, according to local media.

Some airlines that use the company for baggage-handling include Condor, Air Canada and TUI.

The airport has warned that others could be affected too, as a statement said that “its impact will stretch beyond Swissport-handled airlines“.

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Popular airlines taking Brits to the island include Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2.

The airport said: “Large-scale airport strikes can occasionally create a minor knock-on effect. If Swissport-served flights experience delays at the gates, it can sometimes lead to localised congestion on the tarmac or minor delays at security control.”

To minimise disruption, Palma Airport has advised customers to do the following:

• Check in online: Complete your check-in online before heading to the airport to minimise time spent in queues.
• Travel light if possible: Travelling with hand luggage only allows you to bypass potential check-in and baggage carousel delays.
• Monitor your airline’s app: Keep a close eye on text alerts or app notifications from your airline for real-time schedule updates.
• Arrive on time (but not too early): Stick to the standard arrival window recommended by your carrier (usually two to three hours before departure). Arriving half a day early can worsen airport congestion.

The airport did see some disruption during the previous strike on July 28 when Swissport workers action coincided with a 24-hour walkout by the Regional Metal Sector.

The Regional Metal Sector covers technical personnel across the entire airport – their final strike is scheduled for today.

On July 28, one man wrote on X: “Stuck on a staircase in palma airport due to swissport ground staff and baggage handlers on strike until midday.”

On the same day, another called on the strike to end with “people waiting on bags to start their holiday”.

A third wrote: “Been to Palma airport recently. It’s not just UK airports, that place is an absolute shambles.”

On the strike, a TUI spokesperson said: “We are aware of planned industrial action affecting airline operators at Palma airport.

“At this stage, we do not anticipate any disruption to our customers. However, we are working closely with our local teams and airport partners to minimise any potential impact.

“As always, we will proactively update our guests if there are any changes to their itinerary. Customers should continue to check their flight details as usual before travelling.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair told Sun Travel that it will “operate as normal” with “no impact to operations”.

easyJet also said its flights will be operating as normal.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

A MAJOR European airport is set to close for months in 2028, impacting all flights.

Charleroi Airport in Brussels, Belgium, will close for 11 weeks as its runway is renovated and the airport is revamped.

All flights will be impacted between August 15 and October 31 – which includes travellers heading away during both the school summer holidays and October half-term break.

Charleroi Airport is the second largest airport in Belgium.

It will undergo a number of updates during the closure, estimated to cost around €50million (£42.8million).

Airlines that operate to and from the airport include popular budget carriers, Ryanair and Wizz Air.

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For UK travellers, this will include flights from and to Newcastle and Manchester.

Airlines will need to temporarily reroute their flights to different airports.

Currently there is no further information of what this will look like although is likely to mean cancellations and diverted.

According to several reports, the airport stated: “A complete refurbishment of Charleroi airport’s sole runway, together with other major infrastructure modernisation works, has been scheduled by SOWAER (the company behind the works) for the second half of 2028.”

Works include completely resurfacing the 3,200 metre runway.

The works are expected to impact two million travellers.

The Sun has contacted Charleroi Airport for comment.

AN AFFORDABLE airline has delayed its flights from a major UK airport – before they’ve even taken off.

AirAsia X was due to launch flights from London Gatwick on August 27, however flights have been removed from the schedule.

The airline has said that due to “prolonged geopolitical instability in West Asia” the route is now expected to launch in March 2027.

Benyamin Ismail, General Manager of AirAsia X said: “Following a thorough review of the operating environment, we have made the difficult decision to defer the commencement of our Kuala Lumpur-Bahrain-London Gatwick services due to the prolonged geopolitical instability in West Asia.

“This decision was made in view of ongoing safety and operational considerations, with the safety and well-being of our guests and crew remaining our highest priority.

“It is also in line with actions taken by other carriers that have reduced or suspended operations in the region.

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“We will continue to closely monitor developments in the region and review the route when conditions are conducive to safe and sustainable operations.”

The route will travel between London Gatwick and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, stopping at Bahrain and would’ve operated four times a week and then daily from the start of November.

Flights were set to be on an Airbus A330-300, which with AirAsia X, holds between 285 and 377 passengers.

Despite being a long-haul flight, the airline has been able to make the route low-cost due to the stopover in Bahrain and choosing Gatwick Airport over London Heathrow.

The Malaysian airline already delayed the launch of the route due to conflict in the Middle East.

However, the airline said at the time that it was still focusing on growth, with specific destinations including Busan, Batam, Bahrain and London.

When flights eventually launch, British travellers will be able to head to 100 destinations across Asia through the airline’s Kuala Lumpur hub, including Japan and Sri Lanka.

The airline used to operate budget long-haul flights from Kuala Lumpur to London but the service stopped in 2012.

AirAsia X added that all impacted travellers will be informed and offered either a full refund or credit to be used within 730 days.

HEATHROW passengers to face DECADES of higher fares as the airport is set to recoup costs of its multi-billion expansion plans.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed the UK’s biggest airport will be able to recover up to £320million that it’s spent on its third runway proposal.

The maximum airport charger per passenger will be about 15p in 2028, rising to an estimated 30p in subsequent years.

The higher airline charges, which will be built into the cost of flights, will last for about 20 to 25 years.

Heathrow West, a rival expansion scheme led by property billionaire Surinder Arora, has been given the go-ahead to recoup £4.1 million it spent on its plan in 2025 up to November 25, despite it not giving the go-ahead.

Heathrow Airport Limited (HAL) scheme is estimated to cost £33billion, including £1.5billion to move the M25, and is expected to be fully privately financed.

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It would see Heathrow’s annual capacity increase to 756,000 flights and 150million passengers.

British Airways, the largest airline at Heathrow, warned that early cost recovery by HAL would create a risk that expansion will be “unaffordable for consumers and inconsistent with a credible benefits case”, according to a CAA document.

Airlines have repeatedly complained that Heathrow has the highest charges of any airport in the world.

Tim Johnson, the CAA’s director of consumers and markets, said: “Our decision strikes a balance between supporting the delivery of benefits to consumers through timely progress on Heathrow expansion, whilst also protecting them from undue increases in costs.

“The costs Heathrow can recover are capped, independently scrutinised and subject to efficiency reviews, helping ensure that passengers only pay for efficient costs that are justified.”

A separate process will be conducted to decide arrangements for costs incurred from 2027.

Last month, the Government launched a consultation on its Heathrow expansion national policy statement, setting out the conditions needed if the project is to be given the go-ahead.

Former chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was determined to get “spades in the ground” for the third runway which is set to be built by 2035.

However, Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously expressed concerns over Heathrow expansion, stating the plans divert infrastructure investment “away from the North and traps it in London”.

A Heathrow spokesperson said the project will give passengers more choice while providing a “real economic boost to every region and nation of the country”.

He went on: “We have been clear from the start that unlocking the private investment that will deliver these benefits requires a supportive regulatory framework.

“We are carefully considering the CAA proposals and will make investment decisions accordingly.”

BUDGET airline easyJet has just released its flights for next summer and you could grab a bargain.

EasyJet‘s Big Seat Release means travellers can now book flights up until September 26, 2027.

Travellers can choose from 140 destinations across Europe and North Africa and can fly from 22 airports.

And package holidays can be booked up to October 31, 2027.

Sun Travel looked at the current cheapest flights available and here are the best offers at the time of publication.

You could head from Newcastle to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, one-way on September 8, 2027, for £26.48.

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Alternatively, from the same airport, you could head to Nice in France for £26.48 one-way.

From Birmingham Airport, you could travel to Paris, France, on June 29 for £29.48 one-way.

Or head to Amsterdam for the same price, on June 15.

If you don’t mind spending a few more quid, there are several flights for £32.48 from the airport, including to Bordeaux on August 26, Berlin on August 30, Prague on June 16 and Geneva on September 8.

There are several flights from Manchester Airport for £32.48 one-way.

These include to Paris on June 22, to Amsterdam on September 7, to Copenhagen on June 15 and to Rennes on June 30.

For a bit of Spanish sun, you can head to Barcelona from Leeds Bradford Airport for £34.98 one-way on June 16.

Or you could head to Porto in Portugal on August 6 from Glasgow for £32.48 one-way.

If you can’t wait for a holiday until then, you can get 15 per cent off selected flights if you book by Friday, for holidays between August 1 and September 30, 2026.

Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “Whether customers are dreaming of a beach holiday in the Mediterranean, a city break with friends or a family getaway during the school holidays, our Big Seat Release for next summer gives them the chance to get ahead and start planning.”

AN airport in the UK has issued a warning for anyone travelling there this week, due to a major road closure.

Bournemouth Airport has said passengers will need to allow extra time there due to this, with fears of disruption.

From tomorrow until July 31, Matchams Lane just beyond the Dorset airport will be closed for ‘essential maintenance’.

Passengers arriving that way by car can expect disruption from its junction with Avon Causeway and Bostwick Lane.

The road will be closed to all vehicles from 7am to 6pm on all three days.

For drivers there will be no parking and no waiting at any time on the road.

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There will be a diversion in place, but as a result, Bournemouth Airport has told passengers to allow ‘extra time’ when travelling.

BCP Council added: “These arrangements may be amended/extended should works overrun or weather conditions delay operations; restrictions may be in effect under this Notice for up to five days, and extended by a further Notice or Order.

“The Council regrets any inconvenience to the public caused by this temporary prohibition.”

This comes just one month after Bournemouth Airport hiked its costs at short-stay pick-up and drop-off charges, with some fares doubling.

Motorists who use the pick-up and drop-off zone of the car park now have to pay £8 for up to 30 minutes of parking which is an increase of £2 from last year.

Stays between 30 and 60 minutes have doubled in price, now costing £15 to park, compared to £7.50 previously, with one to four-hour parking priced at £20.

STRIKES at an airport in Spain have started today – with passengers being told to ditch cabin bags for hand luggage to avoid the chaos.

Walkouts from multiple unions will continue across the next couple of weeks affecting baggage handling and check-in.

Palma Airport on the island of Majorca is one of the busiest in Spain during the summer season – and lots of its workers are going on strike.

The first walkouts are by those working in technical maintenance, ground equipment and airport infrastructure roles.

These are being planned by three unions, which started yesterday and will continue until July 30.

Swissport – who handle check in and boarding – is also striking today, as well as on August 1, 4 and 8.

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On these days ground staff will walk out between 7am to 12pm, then again from 7pm to 10pm.

The airport has warned passengers that today could be particularly bad as the strikes coincide at the same time.

Airlines affected by the Swissport ground handlers’ dispute include TUI.

But others could be affected too, as a statement from the airport said that “its impact will stretch beyond Swissport-handled airlines”.

While flights are yet to be cancelled, according to Qsensor, the wait time at security in Palma Airport this morning has been 26 minutes longer than average.

Passengers going to the airport during this time have been asked not to arrive too early and even ditch check-in bags for hand luggage instead.

On its website, the airport issued advice to travellers who are heading through the terminal on strike days.

• Check in online: Complete your check-in online before heading to the airport to minimise time spent in queues.

• Travel light if possible: Travelling with hand luggage only allows you to bypass potential check-in and baggage carousel delays.
• Monitor your airline’s app: Keep a close eye on text alerts or app notifications from your airline for real-time schedule updates.
• Arrive on time (but not too early): Stick to the standard arrival window recommended by your carrier (usually two to three hours before departure). Arriving half a day early can worsen airport congestion.

On the strike, a TUI spokesperson said: “We are aware of planned industrial action affecting airline operators at Palma airport.

“At this stage, we do not anticipate any disruption to our customers. However, we are working closely with our local teams and airport partners to minimise any potential impact.

“As always, we will proactively update our guests if there are any changes to their itinerary. Customers should continue to check their flight details as usual before travelling.”

Meanwhile, Ryanair told Sun Travel that it will “operate as normal” with “no impact to operations”.

easyJet also said its flights will be operating as normal.

IF you‘re already thinking about next year’s holiday and want to bag a bargain then set your alarm for tomorrow.

easyJet is set to put lots of flights on sale for summer 2027 in its next Big Seat Release – and they’ll be cheap too.

From tomorrow, the airline will put flights on sale for travel between June 14 and September 26.

Talking to MoneySavingExpert, easyJet revealed that almost 14million seats will be available to book – that’s more than 78,000 flights.

But if you want to get cheap deals, you’ll need to start early as when demand goes up, so do the prices.

A time for the release hasn’t been confirmed yet, but usually it’s around 6am or sometimes earlier.

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An easyJet spokesperson told the publication: “We encourage customers to book early to get the best fares.

“Fares are demand-driven so they start low and rise as more seats on the aircraft are booked.”

Talking about the easyJet seat release, Martin Lewis described it as “the most predictable time to get cheap flights” – which means there’s likely to be a sharp increase in flight prices.

In its last release, which was in March, millions of seats were available for holidays in winter 2027, including February half-term.

Some of its deals included one-way flights to Paris from London Gatwick from £31.99.

There were also flights to Agadir in Morocco from London Gatwick on February 23, 2027, for £37.99 one-way.

A NUMBER of airlines have changed their seat allocation rules – and it means you’ll have to shell out more cash.

The Lufthansa Group, which owns Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Discover Airlines, has announced a change to the way seats are handed out.

Passengers will still be allocated a seat at check-in, but if they want to change it, they will now need to pay.

The change applies to the airlines’ long-haul flights across Economy and Premium economy.

Before this change, travellers who hadn’t booked a seat in advance would be given a standard seat at check-in, which they could then change free of charge if they wanted to.

The rules are already in place on some short and medium-haul flights, but now extend to lots of long-haul Economy and Premium Economy tickets.

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Prices to swap your seat will depend on a number of different factors including your flight route and departure point.

As an example, according to Travel Mole, swapping your standard Economy seat on many intercontinental routes with Austrian, Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa could set you back between €25 (£21.36) and €45 (£38.46).

Lufthansa Group has said that it will try to keep families together though, where possible.

The airline group has said the change has been introduced to make fares “more transparent”, so travellers only pay for the services they want.

The new rules came into effect on July 1 and the seat allocation process and any wanted changes take place at check-in.

A number of people have taken to Reddit to share their outrage for the new rule.

One person commented: “Why are they so busy trying to compete with Ryanair.”

Another added: “Next they will charge us if we think about our seat.”

SEVERAL UK airports have scrapped the 100ml liquid rule, just as the summer holiday rush gets underway.

The policy change comes in as airports prepare for their busiest time of the year.

Until this year, liquids in hand luggage were restricted to 100ml, with all bottles required to be removed to go through security.

However, seven UK airports are removing the 100ml liquid hand luggage rule in a major change to security measures.

Due to technology developments, a number of airports will accept containers of up to two litres in hand luggage.

This includes Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Belfast International, and Belfast City.

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Heathrow Airport has confirmed that containers of up to two litres can be taken in hand luggage in Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5, but metal or insulated bottles must be emptied first.

Gatwick, Edinburgh, and Bristol similarly require metal, or double-walled containers, to be completely emptied before security checks.

Birmingham and Belfast City allow liquids, as well as gels and pastes of up to two litres to stay in cabin bags.

17 major airports, however, have reported to retain the 100ml liquid limit throughout the summer period.

Airports not introducing the rule have made some changes, with Manchester, London Luton, London City, and Teeside allowing 100ml liquids to remain inside hand luggage, and not be put in plastic bags.

Passengers, however, have been urged to check the rules at overseas airports, as many may not operate on the same regulations as the UK.

Items that are commonly treated as liquids include drinks, creams and lotions, mascara, lipgloss, toothpaste, hair gel, shaving foam, and liquid-filled toys.

Before travelling, it is important to check the exact rules of your departure airport before packing any restricted items.

ARE you a stinky food smuggler or perhaps a brazen barefooter? Because how you behave while on your flight this summer could reveal a lot about your personality. 

New research by Booking.com has found that two-thirds of Brits treat the aeroplane cabin as a home-from-home, with a tenth admitting they kick off their shoes and go barefoot. 

Major bugbears included passengers eating smelly food, watching films without headphones, leaning over fellow travellers to take photos of the sky, and doing manicures. 

With more than four million passengers set to fly from British airports this month, The Sun’s Lynsey Clarke asks psychologist Emma Kenny what the most common in-flight behaviours say about you.

Among the biggest pet peeves for people – whether it’s on a plane or on public transport – are space hoggers and ‘manspreaders’.

If your seat is in the middle and you take up both armrests, you may irritate your neighbours, but Emma says: “You probably have a strong sense of what you consider fairness. 

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“Many people believe the middle seat has earned both armrests, so if you confidently claim them, you’re likely someone who values unwritten social rules. 

“Just remember there’s a difference between quietly claiming your space and elbowing your neighbours into submission.”

BAREFOOT BRIGADE

Reddit threads consistently cite this as one of the most disgusting cabin behaviours and some passengers have even uploaded photos of the so-called ‘barefooters’.

Speaking about those who did this, Emma says: “Comfort is clearly your priority.

“You probably become so relaxed in your surroundings that you momentarily forget you’re still sharing the space with hundreds of strangers. 

“It’s less about being deliberately inconsiderate and more about becoming so comfortable that your social awareness quietly checks out.”

BLACK COFFEE BORES  

If you shun the delights of the cabin crew’s trolley and prefer to order a simple black coffee, then this flight is not your first rodeo.

Emma says: “If you order black coffee you’re probably a seasoned traveller who sees flying as a practical part of the journey rather than the start of the holiday. 

“You tend to be organised, forward-thinking and focused on arriving feeling your best.

“Black coffee drinkers often give the impression of someone who’s done this many times before and has their travel routine down to a fine art.”

SEAT STICKLERS 

Do you always book the same seat every time you fly?

Emma says: “You’re probably someone who likes routine, predictability and being in control of your environment.

“Knowing exactly where you’ll be sitting removes one more decision from the journey, helping you feel organised and relaxed.

“It’s a habit often seen in people who like planning ahead and minimising unnecessary stress.”

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

However, if you tend to skip the seat reservation, and hope others will swap so you can sit with your party, it means you’re a glass half-full kind of person.

Emma says: “You’re probably optimistic and naturally spontaneous, with a tendency to believe everything will somehow fall into place.

“While that flexibility can be one of your strengths, it can also mean expecting other people to accommodate plans you didn’t make in advance.

“It’s a classic example of assuming everyone shares your relaxed approach, which is very rarely the case.”

CHATTY NEIGHBOUR 

If you are always up for a good chinwag with the person sitting next to you, it says a lot about you.

Emma adds: “You’re likely highly sociable and energised by conversation.

“For some people, talking also helps reduce anxiety and makes unfamiliar situations feel more comfortable.

“The trick is recognising when your neighbour is equally chatty, or when they’ve put their headphones on for a very obvious reason.”

SEATBELT TWITCHER 

It isn’t easy being constrained in the seat for long periods.

And if you’re someone who unbuckles before the seatbelt sign goes off and talks through the safety presentation, then you are probably optimistic by nature.

Emma says: “You’re probably experiencing what’s known as optimism bias, the belief that nothing is going to happen because nothing ever has before.

“Familiarity can make us complacent, but experienced travellers know that paying attention to the safety briefing and waiting for the seatbelt sign to switch off before unbuckling is a small habit that can make a big difference.” 

BACKPACK BASHER 

If you’re the passenger who keeps your backpack on right until you get to your seat, then you are very goal focussed.

Emma says: “You’re probably so focussed on reaching your seat that you lose awareness of what’s happening around you. 

“Psychologists call this attentional narrowing, we become so focussed on one goal that we overlook how our behaviour affects others.

“Unfortunately, the people you’ve accidentally whacked with your backpack are usually very aware of it.”

JUST ONE LAST CALL-ERS 

Some passengers find it difficult to switch off and insist on making one last Facetime call, or filming a TikTok video before take-off.

Emma says: “You probably enjoy sharing experiences as they happen.

“You’re someone who likes documenting life and bringing friends and followers along for the journey.

“The challenge is remembering that not everyone wants to be an extra in your travel content.”

AND…RELAX-ERS

A quarter of Brits drink alcohol in the airport and one tenth admit to ‘getting drunk’ mid-air, according to a survey for the Institute of Alcohol Studies. 

Emma says: “For many people, the holiday begins the moment they clear security, so ordering a beer, wine or G&T is all part of switching into holiday mode. 

“It often reflects someone who enjoys marking occasions with little rituals and embraces experiences rather than simply getting from A to B. 

“For nervous flyers, though, it can also be a way of taking the edge off pre-flight anxiety, although alcohol isn’t the best remedy for that.”