British Airways has halted ticket sales for short-haul flights from London's Heathrow airport before the middle of this month, after the airport's decision to cap capacity to tackle disruption and cancellations.
The IAG-owned airline said on Tuesday that the sales suspension for domestic and European destinations was designed to leave capacity for existing customers to rebook flights if needed.
The airline's website showed no tickets for flights departing before August 16 to popular European destinations including Paris, Milan and Amsterdam.
A British Airways spokesman declined to say how long the sales pause would last, or the destinations affected.
But he said the airline was trying to manage capacity restrictions that Heathrow said would last until September 11.
"We've been taking responsible action by limiting sales ... on some of our Heathrow services to ensure more seats are available to rebook customers," the spokesman said.
British Airways has cancelled about 13 per cent of planned capacity this summer because of a staff shortage and the steps imposed by Heathrow.
British Airways through the years – in pictures
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British Airways has been flying for over 100 years. It was founded as Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited in 1919. All photos: Getty Images -
A British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft taking off in 2021 -
British Airways employees welcome Olympians returning from the Tokyo Olympics at Heathrow Airport in August 2021 -
A British Airways Boeing 747-400 aircraft arrives at St Athan Airport in Wales in 2020, after setting off for its last flight -
A British Union flag flies from the cockpit of a new Airbus A380 aircraft after landing at Heathrow Airport in 2013 -
Spectators watch as the last Concorde lands at Heathrow Airport in 2003 -
British Airways Concordes at Glasgow Airport in 1983 -
David Nicholson, the first chairman of British Airways after the merger of a number of UK airlines, proudly displays a model of the Concorde in 1973 -
The first Boeing 747 to be operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation arrives at Heathrow Airport in May 1970 -
Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident 1C medium-range commercial jets for British European Airways at de Havillands Hatfield Aerodrome in 1963 -
A British Overseas Airways Corporation Comet III aircraft on display at Farnborough in 1954. The British Overseas Airways Corporation was formed in April 1940 -
Passengers queuing to board a British European Airways Vickers Viking aircraft in 1950 -
The British Overseas Airways Corporation Short Solent passenger flying boat docks at her new berth near Tower Bridge in London in 1949 -
A British Overseas Airways Corporation air stewardess brings a tray of coffee to passengers during a Second World War flight in 1945 -
A British Airways passenger aircraft at Gatwick Airport in 1936 -
Four Handley Page W10 and one Handley Page W9 Hampstead aircraft operated by Imperial Airways are christened by Lady Maud Hoare, Viscountess Templewood, at Croydon Aerodrome in 1926. Imperial Airways was created in 1924
Heathrow, which has blamed a staff shortage for the upheaval, suggested on Tuesday that the situation was being exacerbated by the summer increase in leisure passengers who are packing liquids in their carry-on bags.
That in turn is prompting more checks, which “slow down the flow through security for all passengers".
Heathrow told airlines on July 12 to limit the number of tickets they sold for flights departing over the next two months, to cap the total number of passengers flying at 100,000 a day and limit queues, delays and cancellations.
Amsterdam's Schiphol airport has taken similar action.
The National checks out Heathrow travel chaos - video
Airlines and airports across Europe have struggled to cope with the rebound in post-lockdown travel, with many failing to recruit enough staff to handle check-ins and baggage handling.
On July 6, BA said it would reduce its summer schedule and "consolidate some of our quieter services".
Heathrow said last week that the cap had delivered a marked improvement in punctuality and baggage handling.
