With high expectations for the summer and in full tourist recovery, Lanzarote has been affected by several cancellations and delays of flights from the United Kingdom in the last month, a direct consequence of the lack of workers that the service sector of the British country is going through.
English airports and airlines, as well as tour operators EasyJet or TUI, among others, have seen their staff greatly reduced after the entry into force of Brexit and the arrival of the coronavirus crisis. "The programming for the summer in the United Kingdom was very strong and they have realized that they cannot cover it," says Héctor Fernández, head of the Lanzarote Foreign Promotion Society (SPEL).
“The whole issue of transportation, handling or fast food was largely covered by immigrants, but as a result of Brexit a good part left the country due to administrative issues,” explains Fernández. In addition, he points out that this situation of exodus was accentuated by the coronavirus pandemic. “When incorporating people from the equivalent of the British ERTE, many had already left the country or did not want to return to the service sector,” he adds.
"We are already suffering the consequences and the situation is of national concern," warns the CEO of SPEL. "We are seeing that the figures for the arrival of British people have decreased in the months of April and May compared to 2019 due to these cancellations, some even at the last minute."
On many occasions, flight suspensions are occurring "in extremis", even with passengers inside the plane on the runway, as happened on a flight that was heading to the island of Tenerife, according to Norwich Evening News.
"In the end, they don't even notify customers that the flight has been cancelled, but you arrive at the airport and in the end it doesn't leave because they don't have staff to complete the computer processes of check-in or boarding," explains Héctor Fernández.
A problem to be solved in record time
The SPEL counselor insists that, although this situation is expected to begin to be resolved in the month of June, it is still an "important variable" to take into account, with a view to the summer, since they would have to alleviate these problems in record time.
“British companies are adjusting their operational difficulties and are looking for workers everywhere, because they cannot afford, after two years of pandemic, to have problems another summer due to a new variable, such as the lack of workers,” concludes Fernández.
To this are also added all the problems derived from inflation and the imminent strike of Ryanair cabin crew, which will take place on June 24, 25, 26 and 30 and July 1 and 2. “Given the lack of workers in the UK sector, conflicts are beginning to arise, so it is normal for employees to begin to push to demand better conditions,” adds Héctor Fernández.
