British Airways cancels hundreds of summer flights, including Far East routes

The UK's flagship airline has cut journeys from Heathrow to Miami by half

British Airways has removed hundreds of journeys from its schedule this summer. AP

British Airways has cancelled hundreds of flights on popular routes for the summer season, adding to the airline’s increasing woes.

Thousands of passengers are set to be affected by the airline’s decision to drastically reduce schedules from May to August, with journeys to and from some of the most popular holiday routes slashed by half.

Some flights to the US and the Far East will be off limits during the busy period. British Airways hopes to bring back the cancelled flights in September.

Trips to favourite destinations such as Miami, Hong Kong and Tokyo have been called off.

Miami is one of the most popular holiday destinations for British families looking for a sunny spot with a rich culture.

Flights from Heathrow Airport in West London to the city in Florida are set to be reduced from two to one-a-day from June 4 until at least September 7. BA’s decision will affect thousands of passengers over the summer.

BA said the cancelled daily flights to Miami would be picked up by American Airlines.

In an email to customers the airline apologised and vowed to work to find alternatives.

“We will do everything we can to get you where you need to be,” the airline wrote.

The move has also fuelled fears that BA's flights to other major holiday sites could be at risk of being cancelled.

Flights to and from Hong Kong were removed due to the continuing Covid-19 restrictions affecting passengers.

The changes were announced after a conference in Manila on Thursday.

The decision came on the back of upheaval for BA customers when more than 1,000 flights were cancelled over the past three weeks.

On Wednesday alone, about 112 flights to European and Mediterranean locations were removed from BA’s schedule, after 96 flights were cancelled the previous day.

Britain’s largest airline is suffering from chronic staff shortages. After laying off thousands of staff during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, BA is now trying to hire workers to replenish its ranks.

British Airways through the years