A MAIN road into a major UK airport is set to shut over the half term – and could spark getaway chaos for thousands of Brits heading on holiday.
The works will take up to 11 days to complete.
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The airport warned of delays and closures ahead of the half termTravellers should add additional time to their journeys when travelling to and from the airportCredit: Alamy
An overnight road closure will block a main access route into Leeds Bradford Airport, with works starting next Monday (May 18).
From 7pm to 6am, the route between the Pool Bank and Dyneley Arms junction and Leeds Bradford Airport will be shut, with works set to last until Friday, May 29.
The airport notified travellers of the disruption via social media, and said a sign-posted diversion route will be in place, operating via the A660.
It added that those travelling from North Yorkshire, the North East, and Wetherby may find their journey times up to 30 minutes longer than usual.
The Greek Embassy said “As of April 10, 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”
This was backed by the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, who said Brits will “no longer need to undergo additional EES biometric procedures, ensuring a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece”.
However, in a u-turn, officials have now said that Brits will not be exempt and will have to follow the new EES rules.
The Greek Foreign Ministry said they have not received any information that “specific nationalities are temporarily exempt from the relevant procedure,” according to local media.
Instead, the rules will only be temporarily paused if there are high volumes of passengers at once, caused by a number of planes landing at the same time.
This won’t just affect Brits, but any non-EU nationals that have to go via the biometric scanners.
And queues have already started to cause problems – one passenger told local media it took “nearly two and a half hours to get through [passport control] in Athens” while island airports like Zante were facing similar wait times.
One source warned it was “just the beginning,” with summer seeing as many as 15,000 passenger a day travel through Athens, the busiest airport in Greece.
Huge queues have already been reported across Athens and Zante ahead fo summerCredit: Alamy
If you want to try and avoid the chaos, make sure your plane doesn’t land between 12pm and 2pm, they warned, as that’s when a huge number enter Athens at one point.
Portugal is also another country struggling with huge queues, with one expert saying a family waiting more than six hours because of the EES waits.
It was hoped that both Portugal and Italy would suspend the EES rules until after summer, but they have also echoed Greece in saying this would only be during busy passenger periods.
WAITING times in airports have increased since the introduction of EES – but one destinations has had travellers queueing for up to six hours.
Portugal is a beautiful country for a family break, but the lengthy queues mean that some are spending longer lining up in the airport than they do on the plane.
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Portugal has been experiencing very high queues at its airportsCredit: AlamySome travellers have experienced queues up to six hoursCredit: Alamy
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EES delays and travel chaos have dominated the news, and some airports in Portugal in particular have passengers waiting in very long queues.
One travel blogger posted on Instagram: “Last week a family I advised landed in Lisbon and stood in line for 6 hours and 40 minutes. Their toddler slept on a suitcase. They missed their transfer to the Algarve.
“EES (the EU’s new biometric entry system) is now live. Faro processes 7x more summer traffic than its capacity. Luggage handlers are striking April through June. And the airport you choose to land in will define your first 24 hours in Portugal.”
The flight time between the UK and Lisbon is up to three hours, so some British travellers are standing in the airport for longer than they’re on the plane.
Queues through Lisbon Airport have been causing frustration amongst many travellers.
One Brit wrote just yesterday on X: “Warning if you are flying to Portugal any time now, actually spent longer queuing than the actual flight, was a shambles with half the machines not working, and further queues to passport control.”
Bottlenecking is a cause of lengthy wait times at Lisbon and FaroCredit: Alamy
Another said leaving Lisbon Airport was the “one of the worst passport control experiences” with hours of waiting.
The EU’s EES (entry/ exit) system has increased the queuing time for inward and outward passengers by four and even five times as much, according to The Resident.
It’s not just Lisbon either; Faro Airport in the south is experiencing lengthy delays too with some saying that they’ve queued from the terminal to airside.
One big reason for the delays that Lisbon and Faro airports suffer from is caused by what’s called ‘bottlenecking’.
Essentially it’s airport congestion from when lots of flights land at the same time, or delays cause lots of passengers to be in one place at the same time.
One holidaymaker called Lisbon Airport one ‘of the worst passport control experiences’Credit: Alamy
They occur mostly at security checkpoints, passport control, boarding gates, and baggage handling areas resulting in lengthy queues.
One of our own Travel Reporters experienced the situation herself in Lanzarote when multiple flights landing at the same time ended up in a three-hour queue through the airport.
RYANAIR is axing MORE flights to Europe – hitting four popular airports this year.
The budget airline has confirmed that it would be closing its base at Thessaloniki as well as reducing flights at Athens.
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Greek holiday destinations Crete (pictured) as well as Athens and Thessaloniki are the latest to have Ryanair flights scrappedCredit: Alamy
Not only that, but off-season flights to Chania and Heraklion in Crete have been scrapped.
This means 700,000 fewer seats on sale this winter, working out to a 45 per cent reduction, and resulting in 12 routes being scrapped in total.
Ryanair has cited airport charges as the reason behind the reduction in flights, saying the airports are “no longer competitive” in the off peak season.
Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness said they “regretted” the closures and reductions, but said it was because of the “failure to pass through the ADF reduction” unlike other airports in Greece.
He added: ” The Fraport Greece monopoly have hiked airport charges +66% since 2019.
“Unfortunately, there will now be less low-cost air fares for Thessaloniki’s citizens and visitors, and year-round tourism will be harmed as a result.
“These aircraft will be reallocated to Albania, regional Italy and Sweden, where airports have passed on their Govt’s aviation tax savings – resulting in more connectivity, tourism and jobs this Winter in those regions.”
Last summer, they airline confirmed two million seats across Spain would be scrapped, with all routes to Tenerife North, Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Jerez and Valladolid cancelled.
JET fuel restrictions could hit airlines on a global scale, a major airline owner has warned.
International Airlines Group (IAG), who owns British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, initially said that most of its airlines will unaffected this summer.
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IAG, who owns airlines like British Airways, has warned of restrictions if the war continuesCredit: AFP or licensors
However, they warned that if the crisis continues, shortages will result in restrictions across the globe.
They said: “If the current conflict continues to restrict flows of both crude oil and jet fuel from the Middle East, there is the potential for supplies of jet fuel to be restricted on a global basis.
“We are engaging with governments in each of our home markets as well as with the EU to ensure that the industry is getting the support it needs to navigate this situation.”
IAG has said they expect their profit to be lower than anticipated. It also expects spend more than £1.72billion extra on fuel costs that previously predicted.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz since March has resulted in fears of fuel shortages, and caused airlines to start hiking prices.
Some airlines, such as Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines and Cathay Pacific, have already reduced their flights scheduled for the upcoming months in an attempt to avoid cancellations caused by shortages.
TWO holiday destinations are losing their Virgin flights until next year.
The major airline has confirmed that flights to both Dubai and Seattle will no longer go ahead this year.
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Virgin’s Seattle and Dubai flights have been paused until next yearCredit: AlamyFlights to Dubai have been suspended by a number of airlinesCredit: Alamy
Flights to Dubai are off the cards for most airlines right now, with the Iran war putting the winter sun destination on the no-travel list.
Virgin Atlantic had already suspended flights from London Heathrow to Dubai, but has now confirmed they would not go ahead until winter 2027.
It comes as its London Heathrow flights to Riyadh were cancelled entirely after just a year.
The airline is also suspending flights to Seattle until March 27, 2027.
A Virgin spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our seasonal service to Dubai for the winter 2026 season, while services to Seattle will also be temporarily suspended for the winter 2026 season only, before resuming in March 2027.
“Customers can continue to travel to Seattle with our partner Delta Air Lines who will offer daily services from London Heathrow.”
“We’d like to apologise to any affected customers and will be contacting them with their options which include rebooking or a refund.”
The airline is instead adding more flights to two of its destination in Africa.
From October 25, there will be 11 weekly flights to Cape Town, as well as 10 a week to Johannesburg.
They added: “The updated flight schedule enhances convenience for travellers, with earlier morning arrivals into South Africa allowing passengers to maximise their time on the ground, and later evening departures offering a more seamless overnight journey to London.”
A point of view shot of a mid-adult caucasian same-sex female LGBTQI couple sitting in the airport waiting for their flight toasting with their beers.Credit: Getty
THE BOSS of Wetherspoons has hit back at Ryanair after the airline proposed to scrap the beloved airport breakfast pint.
Sir Tim Martin, 71, boss slammed the idea to ban the sale of alcohol before early morning flights as a “Big Brother” approach.
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Tim Martin has hit back at Ryanair after the airline proposed to limit airport drinkingCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers LtdThe Wetherspoon boss said it was a ‘Big Brother’ approachCredit: Getty
Ryanair boss, Michael O’Leary, recently called for a ban after saying the rise in badly behaved passengers is causing huge problems for the airline.
He said it had become a “real challenge for all airlines” and questioned why punters needed a pint in the early hours of the morning.
O’Leary has also previously suggested a two-drink cap, something he says the airline tends to follow onboard, in an effort to clamp down on bad behaviour by passengers.
But JD Wetherspoon chief Martin said it could lead to passengers being breathalysed and added that any drinks limit would be hard to manage, The Times reports.
Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary recently called for a ban on the beloved airport breakfast pintCredit: ReutersHe claimed that badly behaved passengers are causing the airline huge problemsCredit: Getty
He told the outlet: “It is in everyone’s interests to have good behaviour at airports and on flights.
“A two-drink limit would be extraordinarily difficult to implement, short of breathalysing passengers, and would, in our opinion, be an overreaction — especially since many of the problems stem from incoming flights.”
Wetherspoon also claimed that the majority of its airport sales were not alcohol and any ban would result in passengers buying alcohol elsewhere prior to arriving at the airport.
But O’Leary said the problem with passengers is getting worse – previously the airline would have around one flight diversion a week, which has since increased to “one diversion a day”.
Current rules allow pubs and restaurants in airports to serve alcohol at any time as they do not have to follow the same licensing rules elsewhere in the country.
Passengers drunk on a plane can face being jailed for up to two years, and huge fines if they force a plane to divert of up to £80,000.
Ryanair is reportedly considering closing its base in ThessalonikiCredit: AlamyThessaloniki is considered an entryway to spots like Mount OlympusCredit: Alamy
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Ryanair currently operates three aircraft from its base in Thessaloniki, but is considering shutting it down from October 2026.
Reports have been linked to issues related to a 15 per cent increase in airport charges.
However, no official announcement has been made by the airline.
With the airline considering leaving the city, there are growing concerns about tourism within Thessaloniki – a place where tourists visit to see Mount Olympus and the beautiful beaches of Halkidiki.
The news has prompted Thessaloniki Mayor Stelios Angeloudis to call an emergency meeting with regional tourism officialsto assess the situation.
A tourism representative told local media that the “priority for everyone is and must be the interest of the city.
“If the reason for the possible closure is the high increases, then Fraport should reconsider its pricing policy.”
The Greek embassy confirmed last month: “In the framework of the implementation of the Entry/Exit System, as of 10 April 2026, British passport holders are exempt from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points.”
Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, added: “The Greek National Tourism Organisation remains committed to ensuring a seamless and welcoming journey for all visitors from the UK.”
Airlines such as Ryanair are calling on other countries to pause the rules too, with fears of more problems during the busy summer holidays.
Countries including Spain and France are yet to confirm if they will follow suit.
NEW rules will now allow airlines in the UK to axe flights without repercussions this summer due to ongoing fears of a jet fuel crisis.
The Department for Transport has unveiled new measures which will allow airlines to cancel flights up to two weeks in advance, without losing their airport slots.
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Instead, airlines will be able to group passengers onto other flights that same day, and operate fewer routes a day.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said it would “give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer“
While this is said to be “protecting summerholidays” it could see passengers forced onto flights at completely different times that they had booked.
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: “It’s not fair for the rules to now be bent in favour of airlines and potentially leave passengers holding the bill.
“Many passengers will understand that disruptions can occur and may be happy to travel a few hours or a day later, but for those on short trips or connecting flights it could mean the trip is no longer worthwhile.
“Before any changes are made, passengers need cast-iron assurances that their rights will not be weakened and that airlines cannot use reform as cover to shift the cost of disruption onto travellers.”
However, it has been backed by Airlines UK, which represents UK carriers, as they said it would “avoid unnecessary flying and continue operating as efficiently as possible while protecting connectivity for passengers and trade”.
While jet fuel shortages – caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, are yet to massively effect UK airlines, many others around the world have ben formed to axe flights.
EUROPE’S biggest airline is calling for new European travel rules to be suspended.
Ryanair has written to the 29 countries where Europe‘s new Entry/Exit System (EES) is being enforced, to suspend the system until September following lengthy airport delays.
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The budget airline’s COO Neal McMahon said: “Governments across Europe are attempting to roll out a half-baked IT system in the middle of the busiest travel season of the year, and passengers are paying the price, being forced to endure hours-long passport control queues and in some cases, missing flights.
“The solution is simple and already provided for under EU law (EU Reg. 2025/1534) – Governments should suspend EES until September when the peak summer travel season has subsided, just as Greece has done.
“This would allow passengers – many of whom are travelling with young families – a smoother airport experience for their summer holidays.”
It comes as the airline has called on the French government to suspend the rollout of EES to ensure passengers do not suffer long queues at airports during the summer period.
According to the airline, despite French authorities knowing that EES was going to be introduced on April 10 this year for the past three years, they have “failed to ensure adequate staffing, system readiness or kiosks are in place”.
This has meant that there are long queues at passport control and in some cases, passengers are even missing their flights.
For example at Beauvais, Marseille and Nantes airports, queues are taking around one to two hours for passengers to get through.
Other European countries are also suffering, with Sun Travel Reporter Alice Penwill recently getting stuck at Lanzarote Airport in Spain for three hours.
Other reports have seen two-hour queues at Lisbon Airport in Portugal and in Malta, one flight was forced to wait on the tarmac for 40 minutes before passengers could get off, as passport control queues in the airport were so long.
Greece, on the other hand, has suspended EES until September, to manage peak summer travel.
Back on April 18, a statement from the Greek Embassy announced that Brits are “exempt” from biometrics at all “Greek border crossing points”.
Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, added: “The exemption of British passport holders from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points, effective from 10 April 2026, is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports.
“UK travellers will no longer need to undergo additional EES biometric procedures, ensuring a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece.
“The Greek National Tourism Organisation remains committed to ensuring a seamless and welcoming journey for all visitors from the UK.”
A TOP travel company has launched a new guarantee for customers that allows them to get a refund the same day their flight is cancelled.
On The Beach has launched a new initiative for travellers this summer, where, if their flight is cancelled, they will get a refund on the same day.
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The holiday package provider is the first to offer ‘Cancelled Flight Cover’, and it is included on all On The Beach packages.
The perk will come into play if your flight is either cancelled or rescheduled by 12 hours or more, with On The Beach first trying to find you the “next best flight”.
If this is not possible or you don’t want the alternative flight, a refund will be processed on the very same day for your flight, hotel and any extras you booked.
It comes as airlines and travellers face uncertainty this summer, with possible cancellations across Europe due to fuel supply concerns.
Some airlines are already cutting flights but other providers usually take up to 14 days to refund customers.
Caspar Nelson, holiday expert at On the Beach, said: “Holidaymakers deserve certainty, especially when disruption strikes.
“We’re proud to be the first package holiday provider to commit to same-day refund processing for cancelled flights, giving customers the confidence to book knowing we’ve got their back when it matters most.
“If the worst happens and a flight is cancelled, we’ll move quickly to either find a new route or return every penny of their holiday money that same day.
“This means they can get a new break booked, make alternative plans fast, and get back to looking forward to their summer instead of worrying about it.”
SPANISH holidays are under threat as Ryanair looks to cancel even more flights to the popular European destination.
Ryanair has slammed the Spanish government over rising airport fees in the country, warning that they could reduce even more flights to Spain.
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It comes as Aena – Spain‘s airports operator – plans to increase airport fees by 3.8 per cent each year between 2027 and 2031, which works out to 21 per cent total over five years.
Yesterday, Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said the new fees are “neglecting regional Spain” and that there could be further cancellations if the new charges go ahead.
Mr Wilson previously said: “Nextwinter we will make further cuts to regional airport services and I remind you that our total traffic in Spain for this summer will only grow by 0.5 per cent compared to 9 per cent in Italy, 11 per cent in Morocco or 20 per cent in Poland.
“Aena’s proposal to increase fares by 21 per cent is regrettable, but not surprising, as this airport monopoly has a history of applying the highest fares at the expense of traffic development, especially at Spain’s regional airports, which are 70 per cent empty.”
He added that if the fees did increase it would “make even the most popular airports in Spain uncompetitive” and that Ryanair would turn to “other places in Europe where rates are more competitive”.
These destinations would include Albania, Sweden, Italy and Morocco.
Ryanair has already slashed 1.8million seats, with another 1.2million set for this summer. This includes all flights being cancelled to:
JET2 has issued an update to all travellers about increasing flight fares and holiday prices.
The UK’s biggest tour operator has confirmed that it will not be raising flights or holidays prices to cover increased costs caused by the fuel crisis.
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Jet2 have issued an update about increasing flight and holiday pricesCredit: Alamy
The announcement comes as the ongoing fuel crisis has resulted in a number of airlines increasing their flight prices, including Virgin Atlantic.
The update applies to all flights and holidays with the provider, booked through any channel – whether that be online, via the app or via an independent travel agent.
It means that when passengers book with Jet2, the price that is shown for their holiday or flight, will be the price they pay.
Holidaymakers will still need to pay tourist taxes, which is usually done once you are on holiday at the resort or directly to your accommodation provider.
Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2 said: “Holidaymakers should have every right to book their hard-earned break in the sun, without worrying about being hit with additional costs, and they can have that complete assurance when they book a flight or holiday with Jet2.
“As a result of today’s announcement, customers booking with Jet2 know that they are locking in their price without additional cost surprises later and we strongly believe that is the right thing to do by them.
“Ahead of a busy summer this is yet more evidence of why, on top of our incredible holidays and award-winning customer service, nothing beats a Jet2holiday.”
In a previous statement, a Jet2 spokesperson also told Sun Travel: “We remain in continual dialogue with our fuel suppliers, as is standard practice.
“Based on the conversations we have been having, we see no reason not to look forward to operating our scheduled programme of flights and holidays as normal.
“We understand that our customers work and save very hard for their holidays, and we are looking forward to making sure that they enjoy their award-winning Jet2holidays.”
The announcement comes as a number of other airlines have issued statements regarding upcoming flights and holidays.
TUI holidays confirmed that bookings have not been impacted or cancelled by the fuel crisis.
A TUI spokesperson told Sun Travel: “We’re closely monitoring the developing situation in the Middle East and its potential impact on global aviation fuel supplies.
“At present, we’re not anticipating disruption to our flight schedules or holiday programmes from fuel shortages.”
It comes as other airlines such as TUI have also commented on fuel crisis concernsCredit: Alamy
Budget airline easyJet has also said that flights are currently not impacted by the fuel crisis.
A spokesperson for the airline told Sun Travel that there was “no disruption to flights” and “no plans to make any changes to our flying schedule”.
However, earlier this week, easyJet’s CEO for Spain and Portugal did comment that it was “difficult to see” what would happen in the next few weeks.
Here’s a full rundown of what all the UK airlines have said about fuel crisis concerns.
ONE of the UK’s busiest airports is set for travel chaos over the May bank holiday weekend due to strike action.
Around 100 workers at London Stansted Airport – the UK’s fourth busiest airport – will walk out between May 3 and 6.
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Staff at London Stansted Airport are set to walk out between May 3 and 6Credit: Alamy
The walkout, which has been called by Unite the Union, will mainly involve staff who help passengers with disabilities at the airport and onto their flights.
Action was called after staff rejected a “substandard” pay offer.
Delays are expected as a result of the strike, as it will take longer to board passengers who need help to get to their flights.
Last year the airport handled 2.74 million passengers across May, with thousands travelling across both May bank holiday weekends.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “ABM staff do a vital job for passengers at the airport, yet they are struggling with low pay while their employer makes huge profits.
“This situation is unacceptable and workers at ABM continue to have Unite’s full support.”
Unite regional officer Steve Edwards added: “Workers at ABM are increasingly given bigger workloads and deserve pay that reflects this.
“Their employer can afford to come back with an offer workers would accept and could end this dispute easily by doing so. But until then, Unite members will strike until their voices are heard.”
A previous strike was planned for April 17 to 20 but was called off.
Sun Travel has contacted London Stansted Airport for comment.
In March, the fee to use the express drop-off (up to 15 minutes) at the airport rose from £7 to £10.
The fee for longer stays of up to 30 minutes also rose from £25 to £28.
The changes made Stansted Airport the second most expensive airport for drop-off fees in the UK, only beaten by Gatwick Airport where the fee is £10 for 10 minutes.
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.
THE conflict in the Middle East has had a far-reaching impact on the package holiday market.
Bookings have stalled as holidaymakers delay plans due to the uncertainty and those who are heading away are opting for last-minute trips.
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I’ve been a travel expert for 30 years – so here are my tips on how to protect your holiday this year (as much as possible, that is)Credit: Dan Charity
There’s been an increase in demand for Western Mediterranean destinations like Spain and Portugal over the Eastern Med.
Ironically, that has led to some fantastic deals available on holidays to Cyprus, Turkey and Egypt – all of which are operating completely normally and where there are absolutely no safety concerns.
All of our main tour operators – including Jet2, TUI and easyJet Holidays – have not expressed any concern about trips in the short to medium term and are planning on running their summer schedules as normal.
But with airlines across the globe beginning to scale back flight schedules – removing unprofitable routes now jet fuel prices have soared – as well as others introducing surcharges there is a stark contrast between the two.
If you are looking to head away this summer and haven’t booked, now is probably the time to do it before prices start to rise.
Tour operators are desperate for us to get booking and you’ll see plenty of decent pricing and incentives.
Heading to Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt will be a good bet for those wanting to get a bargain – with demand for Western Mediterranean resorts high, prices could soon start to rise.
But what can you do to make sure your holiday is safe this year? While a lot of it is out of your hands, here are some ways to try and protect it as – much as possible.
Go for package holidays
Package holiday regulations do allow tour operators to add a surcharge to the cost of holidays already booked although it is extremely rare for this to happen.
Even then, the maximum they can charge is eight per cent of the holiday price.
Anything over that, and the operator has to offer you a full refund instead.
But what is clear is this is probably not the summer to do a DIY break.
Booking an ATOL-protected package holiday comes with lots of consumer protection you simply don’t get if you book each element independently.
Check your travel insurance
Most standard travel insurance policies exclude coverage for disruption tied to acts of war but it is still essential to take out insurance as soon as you book any trip as it offers vital protection in the run up to your trip such as sudden illness or the death of a close relative.
And of course, it provides essential medical cover should you fall ill or are injured on your trip as well as lost or stolen luggage and possessions.
Travel insurer Staysure revealed recently that the cost of a medical ambulance back from Spain this summer averages £37,853 from the Canary Islands, £22,930 from the Balearics and £25,583 from mainland Spain.
And while travel insurance won’t cover you if your flight is cancelled, under UK/EU law your airline has a legal duty of care to you and must get you to your destination as quickly as possible.
In most scenarios, getting a refund on a cancelled flight would probably be the worst option as the airline then has no legal duty of care to you.
Read up on your rights should flights be cancelled and be prepared to fight for what you are due.
A credit card is a must in case of any last minute expensesCredit: Alamy
Opt for easy-to-get-home-from destinations
Many of us won’t want to give up the chance to soak up some Mediterranean sunshine this summer – and why should we?!
But making savvy choices on destinations could help protect your summer break.
If airlines do begin to trim schedules and cancel certain flights, it makes sense to choose airports where there are lots of daily flights.
Now is probably not the time to be booking a holiday to a destination that has just a single flight a week.
Booking holidays to our closest European neighbours – the likes of Spain, Portugal, France and Italy – also mean there are alternative ways to get home should flights be cancelled.
You can also look at other ways to holiday from the UK this summer without going near an airport.
There are lots of cruises that depart from UK ports including Southampton and London Tilbury that will sail you in style to the Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords and beyond.
The boss of Brittany Ferries, Christophe Mathieu, has even said: “We make a clear promise to customers.
If you have booked with us, or are considering doing so, we will get you to a beautiful and safe holiday destination this year. Period.
“We will play no part in profiteering. The cost of our holidays rose by inflation earlier this year, and by inflation alone. There will be no further rises in the weeks or months ahead.
“Conflict or other global uncertainty should not be used as the basis for knee-jerk price hikes.”
Be prepared for unexpected expenses
Many travellers were caught short when airlines were forced to cancel flights to or through the Middle East at the start of the war.
For any trip, it always makes sense to have an emergency credit card for any unforeseen expenses that may occur. If possible, apply for one with an interest-free period.
Or look at a currency card like Currensea – this is a card that is linked to your bank account and takes out the payments via direct debit but avoids the high foreign exchange fees and doesn’t need to be pre-loaded like some other currency cards.
An alternative is to look at opening an account with a digital based bank account that you operate through an app on your phone like Revolut or Monzo.
Picking destinations like Spain where there are lots of flight options mean you have more choice if something goes wrongCredit: Getty
FROM flight cancellations caused by the Iran war to massive airport queues caused by new travel entry rules – going on holiday has never been so stressful.
Even myself – who travels abroad every month – approached the airport with trepidation this week.
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I managed to avoid the huge queues on a trip to SpainThere’s been massive queues across Europe in recent weeksCredit: AlamyWith none of the e-gates open, I managed to still get to the front of the queue
My latest trip took me to the city of Bilbao, following the launch of new TUI city breaks to the Spanish city.
But before I could be excited for cheap wine and pinxtos, I was ready to be stuck in the airport for hours on end.
The new European rules – called the Entry/Exit System or EES – have resulted in massive problems especially at busy airports.
More than 80 passengers missed their Ryanair flight because of huge airport queues in Marseille, while over 100 people were left stranded when an easyJet flight to Manchester left without them.
This is because of the requirement of biometric checks from all Brits which includes fingerprint scanning, and is a much slower process than passport stamping.
So after arriving late into Bilbao on a Friday, it’s safe to say I was prepared.
My first chaos-avoiding trick? Book a seat as close to the front as possible.
This will mean you can get off the plane as quickly as possible, meaning you can be at the front of the queue.
I was in row 5 out of 36, so was easily one of the first off the plane.
But this doesn’t always work depending on the airline and airport.
This is because many of them don’t have direct access to the airport via jet-bridge and instead offer the dreaded bus service to taxi you to the building.
Thankfully, there is a way to make sure you are still at the front of the queue even if you pile on.
The best way is to go to the very first bus, and go to the front doors.
Then, rather than piling to the back of the bus for a seat, stay in the middle of the doors on either side.
This means that you will be delivered directly to the airport security entrance and, no matter what side the doors open, you will be at the front.
Both of these tricks allowed me to be fewer than 10 people back when trying to get through airport security.
This still saw me waiting around 25 minutes and, frustratingly, unable to use the empty e-gates and instead stuck in the one-man security queue.
Not only that, but each person was taking at least 1-2 minutes due to the slow machines – so you can imagine how many hours that will take if there are more than 100 passengers on a flight.
But, it was reassuring when I saw how long the queue was behind me, and meant I avoided the majority of the queue.
The new EES rules explained
All non-EU nationals – which includes Brits – are required to register their details on their first visit to a Schengen area country.
This will be done by using specific EES machines which will be at airports, ferry terminals and the Eurostar terminals.
The machines will log your fingerprints, facial images and scan your passport as well.
Once you have registered (such as taking fingerprints and a photo), it is valid for three years, or until your passport expires if it is earlier than this.
EES does not cost anything and is free for all travellers.
I would also suggest that if concerned, fly to a smaller airport where there are fewer UK flights.
This means far fewer passengers travelling through the airport at any one time.
It is also worth avoiding arriving at the same time as other UK flights which you can easily see from airport departure boards.
This is because it is mainly Brits needing to do these checks, not other Europeans, so if there are lots of flights landing at the same time, this will see hundreds more passengers all queueing at the same time.
Airports which have been hit by the chaos recently have included Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, being a major hub, as well as Milan Airport in Italy and Lisbon and Faro Airport in Portugal.
Or – avoid it entirely by travelling to destinations which aren’t following the ne EES rules.
A POPULAR holiday destination could soon lose all of its Ryanair flights – due to huge queues at the airport.
Malta is just one of the destinations in Europe that recently implemented the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) at its airport, which requires new biometric checks.
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Ryanair is threatening to axe flights to Malta due to border control queuesCredit: Getty
However, recent reports found that passengers were left stranded on the tarmac for 20 minutes because the queues were so long at security inside the airport building.
David O’Brien, one of Ryanair’s executive officers and the CEO of Malta Air, said: “If we find ourselves with significant congestion and delay, we’d have to redirect capacity away from Malta to other destinations and that’s not something we’d like to do.”
He has since written to Malta’s Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri to ensure border controls are fully staffed for this summer, according to The Times of Malta.
O’Brien added that “Europe is utterly unprepared in a general sense” and that while the airline has not yet experienced significant delays at Malta Airport, it is concerned about the upcoming summertime period.
Last year, Ryanair carried more than half of total passengers to Malta and of those travelling to the country – with the UK being the biggest market.
To try and reduce the delays, Malta Airport has introduced new measures such as a specific Schengen corridor, as well as increasing the amount of immigration desks.
The airport has also transferred more airport staff to be working on the new system.
Alan Borg, CEO of Malta International Airport told The Times of Malta: “We are working hand in hand with the Malta Police Force to make sure we can do everything possible to support them in this important initiative.
“It is what it is. We need to find ways to improve the processing time over the summer period.”
EES is a new system used across 29 European countries to register non-EU nationals, which includes Brits, for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
And Malta isn’t the only airport suffering delays due to the newly implemented EES.
Last month, Travel Reporter Alice Penwill experienced three-hour queues at Lanzarote Airport.
She said: “The queues stretched along the corridor and zigzagged all the way through the arrivals hall that took passengers to EES registration.”
“I’d already signed up to EES, having visited Lithuania a few months ago – but that was no use at all.
The airport is experiencing queues of around 40 minutes for people arriving and leaving MaltaCredit: Alamy
“There was no separate queue for – or any staff for that matter – advising those who have registered to head straight to the passport e-gates.
“While this was frustrating, what was even more so was that only half of the EES machines were actually working.
“When I finally made it to my bus transfer, even the Jet2Holidays rep said she’d ‘never seen delays this bad’.”
Delays have also been reported at Brussels, Lisbon and Prague airports.
Greece has even decided to halt the system completely.
On April 18, a statement from the Greek Embassy announced that Brits are “exempt” from biometrics at all Greek border crossing points.
Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, said: “The exemption of British passport holders from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points, effective from 10 April 2026, is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports.
“UK travellers will no longer need to undergo additional EES biometric procedures, ensuring a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece.“
Sun Travel has contacted Malta Airport and Ryanair for comment.
It comes after the introduction of Europe’s new Entry/Exit SystemCredit: AlamyThe new system applies to all non-EU nationals including BritsCredit: Alamy
A STANDOFF between unions and operators means a town’s brand new train station is still closed – two years after being built.
A transformative railway line aiming to link Oxford and Cambridge is continuing to see setbacks, leading to delayed openings of stations.
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The station has been closed since 2024 and currently only has empty trains running through itCredit: Emma Trimble / SWNS
The £7 billion project by East-West Rail (EWR) aims to improve transport links for millions of residents in the region and boost economic growth.
Finished in 2024, the line between Bicester Village and Bletchley, a 36-mile journey, was due to open last year.
Currently, passengers trains are running on the tracks – except they have no passengers on board.
A series of disputes between trade unions and the operator, Chiltern Railways, have meant that the stations remain closed and only empty trains are travelling along the tracks.
The ghost-trains currently running through the station are a combination of freight trains and those used for driver training.
Currently, the only EWR trains on the new line in use are those between Oxford and Bicester Village.
The £5 million station has been closed since 2024Credit: Emma Trimble / SWNS
Winslow is one of the towns located on the Bicester Village to Bletchley line that has been affected by the closures.
The £5 million station was completed back in 2024, but has remained closed amid the rows.
It’s opening has also been delayed by concerns raised over the platform length at the station which are going to have to be extended to accommodate the number of travelers.
Both setbacks have frustrated local residents.
A local told the The Telegraph, that the exasperating delays have caused “difficult and annoying delays” for her daughter who has to travel to Oxford to work.
They said that the delays indicate that Britain “doesn’t work like it used to”, and believe a situation like this would “never” have occurred when they were a youngster.
The cause of the row boils down to who operates the doors.
Chiltern Railways, the operator, beleive that the train line should run as a driver-only operation (DOO) meaning that only the train driver is in charge of opening and closing the doors and no guards are required.
They are in a standoff with the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, who represent train guards.
The back-and-forth between the two parties means that plans to continue with the lines opening have be brought to a standstill.
An action group has been set up on Facebook by upset locals to discuss ongoing updates.
It has also become a place for residents to vent their frustration with the continued delays, with one local calling the lack of passenger trains running “an absolute farce”.
A local action group has been set up to track the ongoing delaysCredit: Emma Trimble / SWNS
BRITS are set to face more disruption to their holidays as 14 airports in Spain begin indefinite strikes.
Major airports across the country will face industrial action starting on April 17, as air traffic controller unions stage a walk-out which will see flights delayed or even cancelled.
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Strike action will affect airports on the Canary Islands and mainland SpainCredit: Alamy Stock Photo
The action has been called by the unions USCA and CCOO which affects air traffic controllers operated by Saerco.
As many as 14 airports across Spain, including those in the Canary Islands, face disruption.
The Spanish authorities have the power to impose minimum service levels as air traffic control is considered essential – so not every flight will be cancelled.
However, there are warnings of potential delays, last-minute schedule changes as well as cancellations and missed connections as a result.
The bad news is that air traffic controller unions have indicated that the strike action will be ‘indefinite’ so it isn’t clear when it will end.
To add to the chaos, there have been reports of hour-long queues at airports waiting to register with EES over the last week.
At Palma Majorca Airport in Spain, there were reports of queues “between two and three hours” at passport control on April 11.
The new requirement was officially rolled out last week which led tohuge queues at border control – some passengers even missed their flight.
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.
