DISRUPTION is continuing to cause problems for Brits heading to a major UK airport today.
If you are flying from London Heathrow Airport today you might want to check your travel route before you head off.
Travellers heading to Heathrow Airport will need to allow extra time for their journeyCredit: Getty
It comes after a tunnel at the airport has closed, leaving only one open for trains to head through.
A water leak forced the closure between Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport and today, Elizabeth Line services running through the tunnel are facing severe delays.
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Heathrow Express services between London Paddington and the airport are impacted, with just two running per hour instead of four.
Cancellations and delays are expected until the end of the day
Tickets are being accepted across the Piccadilly Line as well as numerous different buses.
In a statement on Heathrow Airport’s website, it says: “Due to a partial tunnel closure, the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth Line are operating a reduced service to/from Heathrow.
“The Piccadilly line is operating as normal. Pre-paid Heathrow Express tickets will be accepted on the Elizabeth Line.
“Please allow extra time for your journey. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Delays and cancellations are expected until the end of the dayCredit: Alamy
Delays and cancellations also occurred yesterday.
There were also warnings in place for those travelling to Gatwick Airport due to local wildfires.
MORE eruptions from a volcano in Europe has resulted in sudden flight cancellations in Sicily today.
An ash cloud drifting into airspace means that flights cannot land or take off at Catania Airport on the Italian island.
An eruption over the weekend has resulted in delays and cancellations at one of Sicily’s airportsCredit: GettyIt’s not the first time an eruption from Mount Etna has caused travel problemsCredit: Getty
Following an eruption over the weekend and change in wind direction, an ash cloud from Mount Etna has affected airspace in Sicily.
Due to safety reasons, flights departing and arriving into Catania Airport have been cancelled or delayed until 5pm local time.
Operator SAC said: “Due to Etna’s eruptive activity and the associated release of volcanic ash into the atmosphere, the airspace corresponding to the ash cloud southwest of the volcano (Sector C1) has been closed. Arrivals are suspended until 5:00 PM.
“As the situation is significantly affecting operations, passengers are kindly advised to check the status of their flight with their airline before heading to the airport.
“The situation is being constantly monitored, and further updates will be provided depending on the evolution of volcanic activity and weather conditions.”
One Brit travelling home from Sicily over the weekend also faced disruption, he wrote on X: “Had a superb holiday in Sicily
“Getting home was interesting.. Catania flight cancelled due to Etna → 3hr taxi to Palermo → flight cancelled → slept at airport → Rome → taxi to Naples → Gatwick → taxi to Luton. Only a day late but very happy to be back at the nest.”
Palermo Airport, Sicily’s other major aviation hub located on the northwest coast, remains unaffected, with flights operating as scheduled.
It’s not the first time this year that there has been disruption at the airport following eruptions on Mount Etna.
Last month, another ash cloud caused chaos at the airportCredit: Etna Walk/AFP via Getty Images
A WIZZ AIR passenger was left in tears and nearly forced to miss her flight after a disagreement over her bag size.
Katy Hayward, 21, was at London Gatwick Airport heading for Santorini with Wizz Air when she was told she could not board her flight.
Katy Hayward was left in tears after she was not allowed to board her Wizz Air flight to SantoriniCredit: TikTok/@katyhaywarddShe was told that her bag was too bigCredit: TikTok/@katyhaywardd
Travelling with her two friends, the group reached the gate at the airport and a member of staff pulled them to the side and informed them that their bags were too big and they would not be allowed to board the flight.
In a video shared on her TikTok account @katyhaywardd, Katy – who was in tears – passed the phone to her best friend of four years, Kelsea, 26, who explained what happened.
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She said: “We have just been through the gate at Wizz Air and this woman has just screamed in our faces saying we can’t fly because we have these bags – apparently these bags are too big.”
She then turns the camera back to Katy who is showing a holdall-style bag often seen when flying on budget airlines.
Kelsea adds: “Bear in mind we bought these bags specifically for Wizz Air, we’d measured them and everything – there are people that have got bags just as big.”
The camera then pans to other passengers who have similar sized bags.
Kelsea continued: “She was screaming in Katy’s face.
“I’ve just gone up to her and said, ‘excuse me, my friend is really scared of flying, can you speak to us with a bit more respect please, we are happy to take things out of the bag, you just need to speak to her a bit more softly because she’s already anxious’.
“She started going ‘I don’t care, I don’t care’.
“She said if I don’t get out of the area, I won’t be able to fly – my heart is beating so fast.”
Kelsea went on to explain that another member of the gate team stepped in to try and calm the situation, despite the other member of staff still shouting at the group of girls.
Other members of staff nearby also did not intervene while this happened.
Her friend Kelsea later added a photo to the comments showing the bags fitting under the seats on the planeCredit: TikTok/@@kelseaa444
Several travellers can then be heard in the background of the video commenting: “That’s unfair. Disgusting. They shouldn’t do that.”
Katy told The Sun: “I think it’s also important to mention how humiliating the whole experience was.
“I was left sitting on the floor on my own having a panic attack, and my friends weren’t even allowed to come over and comfort me.
“They did not measure our bag in the bag sizer at all.”
Kelsea added a photo of the bags under the seats on the plane in the comments section.
She said: “For everyone asking, the bags WERE the right size. Bought specifically with the right measurements and measured before flying!
“Absolutely no comment from the other staff at check in, literally just this one woman at the gate!”
The bag the girls bought was from Amazon costing £13.99 and measures 40 x 30 x 20cm.
The allowance for a Wizz Air under seat bags is 40 x 30 x 20 cm.
In the end, the Katy and her friends were not made to pay for oversized bags as another employee spoke to them and let them through.
Other social media users also flooded to the comments, with one person stating: “Shocking airline. Flew with them once and they ripped my case and wouldn’t replace it! Overcharged us, will never use them again.”
Another person commented: “Every bag that went past was literally bigger than yours – horrible service!! Hope you girls are okay.”
A third person said: “Shocking airline we had problems with them flying back from Rome we had to pay €150 for our bags which were correct size also but unless we paid we weren’t getting on the flight.
“The whole manner and customer service was disgraceful first and last time we will ever fly with them.”
A Wizz Air spokesperson told Sun Travel: “Wizz Air apologises for the customer’s experience, which does not reflect the standards of service we expect all customers to receive.
“While the member of staff involved is employed by our contracted ground handling partner rather than directly by Wizz Air, we expect everyone representing the airline to follow our procedures correctly and treat customers with respect and professionalism.
“We take any suggestion that these standards have not been met very seriously and have raised this issue with the relevant ground handling partner to determine what happened and ensure it is addressed appropriately.”
ANYONE heading to two of the UK’s busiest airports are being warned of major travel disruption until the end of the day.
Trains between central London and both Heathrow and Gatwick airports are are currently disrupted due to train issues.
Travellers heading to Heathrow Airport could face delays todayCredit: Alamy
A tunnel closure between Hayes and Harlington and Heathrow has caused problems this morning.
There are currently no Elizabeth Line trains between the west London station and Heathrow terminals 4 and 5 and there are also a number of delays on other lines heading to Paddington.
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National Rail has said that the tunnel has been closed for safety reasons.
The Heathrow Express is also currently running on a reduced service, with two trains per hour from London Paddington instead of four.
Disruption is also expected until the end of the day.
The tunnel closure is reportedly due to a water leak on the line.
Tickets are being accepted across the Piccadilly Line as well as numerous different buses.
There are two tunnels that link the airport to the main trainline, but with only one remaining open, trains have to wait at the tunnel to get in or out of the airport.
There are also delays for travellers heading to London Gatwick AirportCredit: Alamy
It is bad news for anyone heading to London Gatwick Airport as well, as there has been a fire beside the track causing delays to rail services between London and the South East.
The fire has caused damage to the overhead signalling cables and currently passengers are being asked to allow an extra 30 minutes for their journey to the airport.
Currently, services between London Victoria and Eastbourne are suspended along with Gatwick Express services.
Thameslink services which run between Three Bridges and Bedford are also suspended.
A Gatwick Express statement says: “You should travel on alternative Southern or Thameslink services towards your destination.
“If you’re travelling towards a different London terminal to normal, you will be able to change trains at stations along the route, such as Haywards Heath, Gatwick Airport, or East Croydon, for a train towards your destination.
“Alternatively, you can use London Underground to travel between stations once you’ve arrived in the London area.”
MANY children may be asking if they can take their squishy toys on flights this summer, however, there are some rules to be aware of.
The toys have become a viral sensation, but they may not be allowed through security gates at certain airports.
Parents need to check the liquid rules of their departure airport before taking squishy dumplings in hand luggageCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
Children may not be able to bring their favourite squishy dumpling toys on flights as they may get flagged by security.
This is because the toys, available in a variety of colours, contain gel inside.
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UK airports have restrictions on the quantity of liquid, gels, and pastes that can be checked in through hand luggage, often limited to a 100ml volume.
However, a number of airports have developed new CT scanners that allow liquids up to two litres to be accepted through security.
These airports currently include Belfast International, Belfast City, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Gatwick and Heathrow.
A host of major airports, such as Luton, Stansted and Manchester still require the removal of 100ml liquids, gels and pastes from bags, and therefore would be more reluctant with squishy toys.
To see whether these dumplings would be accepted, the Department for Transport told the BBC: “No matter how adorable your squishy dumpling is, airport security rules still apply.”
The department advised passengers to check the liquid allowance at the departure airport, noting that “the safest place is in your hold luggage,” for any squishy toys.
Manchester Airport, which only allows 100ml of liquid, told the BBC that “all but very small squishy toys should be placed in the hold baggage”, with only toys with under 100ml liquid accepted through security.
But larger toys may not have the exact measurement listed on the item, meaning it’s better to bring them in hand luggage so security can estimate the size.
Gatwick Airport, which allows up to two litres in hand luggage, said they normally accept squishy dumpling toys, but the toys will be required to go through security screening.
As with anything that goes through airport security, it is important to remember if the item fails checks, it will not be allowed on the plane.
A TODDLER’S antics got a flight canceled as air crews aborted takeoff due to unsafe cabin conditions.
The shocking incident grounded Porter Airlines flight PD444 that was departing Victoria International Airport in British Columbia on Thursday.
A Porter Airlines flight was canceled by a toddler’s unruly antics (stock)Credit: GettyThe child had been standing on their seat and refused to put on a seat belt, forcing the aircraft to return to the terminal (stock)Credit: Getty
Furious passengers were forced to get off the aircraft and wait overnight for a new flight.
The airline revealed that as the plane was leaving the terminal and was heading for the runway when cabin crew noticed the child “standing in their seat” refusing to “secure their seat belt,” Porter Airlines told PEOPLE.
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“The aircraft could not takeoff in this unsafe condition, so the crew elected to return to the terminal and have the passengers disembark.”
Numerous attempts had been made by the crew and the child’s parents to get them to co-operate but these all failed.
The toddler’s unruly antics triggered major schedule delays to the point where the airport runway had closed by the time they looked at rescheduling the departure.
After the plane returned to the terminal, passengers got off with their baggage, and flight planes were refiled, it was gone 12:30am and all passengers and crew had to wait overnight for a new flight.
Porter Airlines issued a grovelling apology to everyone affected by the child’s behavior.
The flight eventually took off for Toronto on Friday at 10:49 pm and arrived at its destination at 6:16 am Saturday morning, delaying passengers by a whole day.
Under the airline’s policy, child safety seats or a restraint device is mandatory for any child under two years old occupying a seat.
The family involved have not publicly been identified.
MORE cheap flights to the US could soon be launching from the UK.
The airline has revealed it could be adding even more flights to some very popular cities after rise in demand after the World Cup.
Norse Atlantic Airways could add more flights to its roster from London to New YorkCredit: GettyPassenger could get more options to Orlando tooCredit: Alamy
Norse Atlantic Airways revealed that as a result of cutting back capacity by almost a third in July due to rising fuel prices, it could actually add more flights to its roster.
Chief executive Eivind Roald said in a statement that the airline was considering adding more flights to New York and Orlando due to a rise in demand.
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It comes after the low-cost airline ran special flights to the World Cup in the US for Norway and England supporters.
New York City is famous across the globe but it is popular with Brits as it can be reached in seven hours.
There are also lots of other places to explore including its many neighbourhoods like Mills 50 which has Asian American and Pacific Islands influences.
Norse Atlantic Airways runs low-cost journeys between the UK and the USCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
Streets are cobbled and there are lots of historic houses and moss-draped oak trees.
Then there’s the Milk District with plenty of street murals and lakeside neighbourhood Winter Garden, with its clutch of museums on Plant Street.
When it comes to eating in Orlando, the city has more than 50 Michelin Guide restaurants.
Round-trips to Orlando from London Gatwick starts from £343pp.
Chief executive Eivind Roald of Norse said: “Our airline on demand strategy enables us to respond quickly to market changes.
“With fuel prices slowly trending downward and demand remaining strong, we see an opportunity to increase capacity on our own network in the coming months, which may include adding more US flights to New York and Orlando.”
What’s it like to fly with Norse Atlantic Airways?
Head of Sun Travel (Digital), Caroline McGuire, flew with Norse and revealed exactly what she thought…
“On a recent trip toCape TownI flew with Norse – it allowed me to do the 11-hour overnight stint in Premium Economy for the same price as a rival company in Economy seats.
“To give you an idea of price, return fares for two adults and one child in premium economy cost £3,583 toCape TownnextMarch, while return fares in Premium Economy on a rival airline cost £5,000.
“Keen to test it out, we flew to the South African city in their posh Premium seats and returned in Basic Economy. So what do those Premium Economy seats get you on an 11-hour Norse flight? Well it starts with a priority lane at check-in.
“Norse doesn’t do online check-in – everyone checks in at the airport. And Premium passengers are given their own lane, so we waited about five minutes before dropping off our bags and getting our tickets.
“You get a small handbag, a cabin bag and a checked suitcase included in the price of a Premium ticket.
“You also get priority boarding, which I’m not normally a fan of given I have a young child who needs to let off steam before a flight, but given our seats were massive, it was worth it.
“he chairs are very roomy. With a very decent recline that allowed my whole family to get a decent night’s sleep. My son pretty much slept uninterrupted from 10pm to 7am, while I snatched a manageable 5ish hours, which is far more than I’ve ever done before in Economy on a long haul flight.
“Crew hand over ear plugs, eye masks, pillows and blankets at the start of the flight, as well as headphones for the TVs (you have to pay £5 for these in Economy).
“Two meals are also included – I had a decent tortellini, side salad and cheesecake-type evening meal with complimentary wine, and a hot cooked breakfast, plus a croissant, yogurt and mini fruit salad.
“All in all, we disembarked from the flight at 8.30am feeling so well-rested that we managed a whole day at the beach in Cape Town, followed by an evening meal.”
AN 81-year old Brit was banned from boarding his Ryanair flight – after making a big passport mistake.
John Constable was due to fly to Spain from Bournemouth Airport with all of his family.
John Constable missed out on a holiday due to damage to his passportCredit: BNPSJohn’s passport had been through the washing machine and had a small tearCredit: BNPS
However, he was left at the airport while his entire family of 16 others went to Spain because of a ‘small tear’ on his passport.
It was then referred to Ryanair officials who refused his travel despite the family asking for ‘exceptional circumstances’.
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Talking to Bournemouth Echo, John’s stepson Scott Palmer-Read said: “John freely admits his passport went through the washing machine.
“But he has been able to travel with the passport in the same condition.
“He had only recently been accepted by British Airways, Air Canada, UK Border Force, Canadian immigration, US immigration and cruise operators without any issue.”
The family of 16 then had to make the difficult decision to travel without him to Girona but said it felt like a “piece of the puzzle was missing”.
He added that the family would “not make the conscious choice to book Ryanair ever again.”
John isn’t the first passenger to miss out on a holiday due to passport damage.
However, Donna was turned away from the flight by easyJet because of a sizeable tear in her passport.
Ryanair denied John boarding due to the damageCredit: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
The damage was across the photo page of her travel document and the size of the tear meant that she wasn’t allowed to board the flight.
A Ryanair spokesperson talking about the situation with John said: “This passenger was correctly refused travel on this flight from Bournemouth to Barcelona Girona (27 July) by the gate agent at Bournemouth Airport as his travel document was damaged (tear in the biodata page of the passport) and therefore not valid for travel.”
A MAJOR European airport is set for a huge, multi-billion expansion.
Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy is a major European hub with around 51million passengers travelling through the airport each year.
Rome Airport is set to undergo a multi-billion-pound transformationCredit: Aeroporti Di RomaThere will be a new terminal and a fourth runway as part of the projectCredit: Getty
And now the airport has revealed plans for a €9billion (£8.48billion) project to make the airport bigger.
Plans include adding a fourth runway to the airport, as well as opening a new terminal.
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The new 3,400-metre-long runway will partially replace runway one, which will be shortened by 900 metres with this area being turned into a park that is open to the public.
Other upgrades will be carried out on the taxiways, aprons and connecting roads.
Then, the new 350,000sqm terminal will be spread across several levels, with two new boarding areas, 76 gates and an exhibition area showcasing local culture.
The new terminal will also have a number of shops, green areas and public spaces.
The money will be split between €5billion (£4.28billion) being spent on expansion and the other €4billion (£3.4billion) being spent on upgrading existing facilities.
The aim is that the airport will be able to handle up to 100million passengers a year by 2046.
The airport is aiming to complete the project by 2033Credit: Aeroporti Di Roma
The project is set to be complete by 2033, which will mark the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s death and resurrection.
According to The Financial Times, the airport’s chief executive Marco Troncone said: “If this happens, the new runway may be ready in 2033, in time, ideally, for the next iconic event . . . to mark 2,000 years after the death of Jesus Christ.”
There are several airlines that fly between the UK and the Italian capital.
For example, you could fly with Ryanair or easyJet that both offer flights from a number of regional airports.
A spokesperson for the airline said: “Following a review of our wider network and operational setup, we have taken the difficult decision to close our Southampton operating base at the end of October.
“Southampton–Manchester and Manchester–Exeter services will operate for the final time on Thursday 20 August.
“Customers affected by these changes will be contacted directly and will be offered alternative options where available, or a refund where no suitable alternative exists.”
The airline added that the decision is also part of a wider strategic update which includes changes to operating bases.
A number of flights will be cancelled, with the airline set to run a reduced schedule from the airportCredit: Alamy
The spokesperson added: “These decisions reflect the same disciplined, decisive approach that has driven previous improvements in Loganair’s punctuality and resilience, protecting the long-term future of the airline, our people, and the lifeline connectivity we provide to communities across our network.”
Loganair’s other bases include Newcastle and Edinburgh.
AN OUTRAGED traveller has shared photos of a bag that appears to fit in a bag sizer, claiming that a major budget airline is “chasing” commission.
In a photo shared on the social media platform X, a traveller has called out Ryanair after their bag fit in the sizer but they were still charged an oversized bag fee.
A traveller has been left outraged after their suitcase fit in a bag sizer but they were still charged for oversized baggageCredit: @laura_myers/XTaking to social media, the traveller is demanding Ryanair gives them a refundCredit: @laura_myers/X
In a tweet @laura_myers said: “Hey @Ryanair, I want a refund for the £75 that the absolute jobsworth at Manchester Airport this afternoon took from me for an “oversized” bag I’ve used and never had an issue with on this exact journey maybe 30+ times over the last seven years.”
Laura followed up, commenting: “I asked a staff member “have the measurements changed recently?” and they said no, but that the enforcement was more stringent – in other words, the guy was really chasing his €2.50 per bag commission fee for the sake of millimetres.
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The budget airline announced back in May that its staff would get bigger bonuses for identifying oversized bags.
The commission was already raised last November for its gate staff from €1.50 (£1.30) to €2.50 (£2.16) per bag.
And in the future, CEO Micheal O’Leary has suggested it could get raised to as much as €3.50 (£3.03) per bag.
The outraged traveller added: “What a nice little earner of a con you’re pulling at the gate, will specifically avoid this route at all costs in future even if it means taking two connecting flights!”
Many people have flooded to the post to comment their thoughts, including pointing out that the bag appears to go a few millimetres beyond the line at the bottom of the sizer.
Other users have shared their outrage, with one commenting: “How are people defending Ryanair.”
Many other travellers have commented on the post slamming the airlineCredit: @laura_myers/X
Another added: “You won’t get a reply I’m afraid, they’re too busy taking the p*** out of people that booked window seats.”
A third said: “Flown with Ryanair once, I’d rather walk than have that experience again.”
Replying to comments on the post, Laura explained how she had paid to have a cabin bag as well as priority boarding.
Other users also questioned why the traveller used the airline with Laura replying that they are the only airline that fly to where she was heading.
A spokesperson for Ryanair said: “This passenger booked a Regular Fare for this flight from Manchester to Göteborg Landvetter (4 Aug), which allowed them to carry a small personal bag and 10kg cabin bag measuring up to 55 x 40 x 20 cm onboard.
“As this passenger’s cabin bag exceeded the permitted size, she was correctly required to pay a standard gate baggage fee by the gate agent at Manchester Airport.”
EUROPEAN borders have been consumed by long queues recently thanks to new travel rules introduced back in April – and it’s about to get worse.
Europe‘s new Entry/Exit System (EES) was fully rolled out at the beginning of April and applies to all Brits entering Europe.
Europe’s new Entry/Exit System has caused long queues at border controlsCredit: Reuters
Upon your first entry to a Schengen country, you must register – which means having your photo taken as well as fingerprints.
However, this registration process has been causing long queues and delays at border control across European airports, with some travellers waiting hours and others even missing their flight.
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And soon it could get much worse.
Come September 6, a flexibility allowance introduced across Europe is due to expire.
EU member states are currently allowed to pause EES checks in “exceptional circumstances” which includes when queues get too long.
According to the EU border security agency Frontex, the flexibility won’t be renewed in September, despite industry bodies calling for it to be, reports The Times.
Countries including Greece, France, Portugal and Spain currently all switch off EES when they need to.
However, when the flexibility expires in September these countries could once again experience long queues at their airports.
And it could soon get worse due to a flexibility in the new rules expiringCredit: Alamy
At some airports, the machines even have to be shut down and turned on again when they get overwhelmed, just to get them to work.
Air France-KLM told Politico: “When lines form during the busy summer months, the system is shut off to ensure smooth transit at our hubs in Paris and Amsterdam.”
Other airports that have had problems with the technology include Brussels Airport, where the system is still not fully operational.
It comes as other issues with the new system have emerged including taking the fingerprints of elderly people.
In some cases, the new system has been unable to scan fingerprints of elderly people as they are too faded.
According to The Telegraph, one Brit who recently travelled to Majorca but when she got to the EES kiosks, her fingerprints weren’t recognised.
The woman then had to wait in a long queue of mainly families for her passport to be manually stamped.
However, anyone who cannot give fingerprints will be exempt from having to give them.
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.
Different airlines currently have different hand luggage allowancesCredit: Getty
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.
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Easyjet
EasyJet currently only allows you to have one small underseat bagCredit: Alamy
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.
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
Wizz Air currently only allows you to have a small bagCredit: Alamy
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
Ryanair currently only allows each passenger to have one small underseat bagCredit: Alamy
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
Jet2 allows passengers to have a small bag and cabin bag eachCredit: Alamy
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
TUI allows passengers to have a handbag and cabin bagCredit: Alamy
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
British Airways passengers with a basic economy fare get one cabin bag and one small bag eachCredit: Alamy
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
Virgin Atlantic passengers in economy light are allowed a small bag and a cabin bag eachCredit: Alamy
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 will expand in a huge £2.4billion projectCredit: AlamyThe airport is home to airlines like Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz AirCredit: EPA
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.
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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.
DESPITE the objections of environmental lobbyists, the expansion of Luton Airport can ONLY be a good thing for the UK and its beleaguered travellers.
Airport capacity in the UK has simply not kept up with the pace of demand and increasingly outdated infrastructure is creaking under the strain.
We desperately need to invest in our airport infrastructure to compete on the global stage. As an island, it’s even more essential.
Luton has been the butt of jokes since the 1977 classic Campari advert that had Lorraine Chase utter the famous line, ‘Nah, Luton Airport’ – satirising the growth in international travel.
While nothing will happen overnight, the opening of a second terminal will no doubt transform the experience of travelling through what is right now a very cramped airport.
And with theme park giant Universal looking to bring their signature attractions to a brownfield site in Bedfordshire, increasing the connectivity and number of passengers the airport can handle is ever more of a priority.
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.
Passengers travelling to and from Luton Airport this summer can do so for freeCredit: Alamy Stock PhotoThe buses will take passengers to the terminalCredit: Alamy
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.
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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.
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.
London Luton Airport saw over one million passengers last AugustCredit: Alamy
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.”
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.
Gatwick Airport will be getting a second runway
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.
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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.
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.
Istanbul Airport will open a fourth runway later this yearCredit: Shutterstock EditorialThe hub that opened in 2018 is hoping to get millions of passengers by 2028Credit: Alamy
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.
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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.
Istanbul Airportis the second airport in the city and officially opened in late October 2018, before becoming fully operational in April 2019.
Istanbul Airport in Turkey is now the busiest airport in EuropeCredit: Getty
It was even announced as being the ‘world best’ in 2024, according toTravel + 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.
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.”
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 has said the axing of routes from London Heathrow is temporaryCredit: Alamy
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.
Newquay Airport is warning travellers of delays this weekCredit: AlamyBoardmasters Festival will take place between August 5 and 10 and cause delays on roads around the airportCredit: Boardmasters
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.
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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.
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.
The airport is advising travellers to allow for extra time to get to the airportCredit: Rex
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.
A plane was forced to divert earlier this week when a headphone charging case overheatedCredit: Swiss International Air Lines
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.
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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.
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.
Headphone charging cases contain lithium batteries, which are increasingly causing issues on flightsCredit: Getty
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 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.
Lisbon is set to get a new airportCredit: ANA Aeroportos de PortugalIt is set to cost £7.63billion and will host up to 56million passengers a yearCredit: ANA Aeroportos de Portugal
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.
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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.
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.
There will be two runways which could be increased to four in the futureCredit: ANA Aeroportos de PortugalOther airports across Portugal are also set for upgradesCredit: ANA Aeroportos de Portugal
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.
