Heathrow’s chief executive is facing a formal ultimatum to resolve the disruption at the understaffed airport as the world’s biggest international airline openly defies his order to cancel flights.
In a joint letter from the Department for Transport (DfT) director-general for aviation, maritime and security and the chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), John Holland-Kaye was given until midday on Friday to reassure them that the airport there is sufficient staff for security screening and to assist passengers with disabilities.
It was also ordered to report back with a “credible and sustainable capacity recovery plan for the next six months”, according to the letter seen by The Telegraph.
Rania Leontaridi of the DfT and Richard Moriarty of the CAA wrote: “Heathrow and the airlines using your airport need to be confident and able to reassure us that you have a plan in place that can ensure a positive passenger experience by allowing as much as possible -many people to travel, without much turmoil and queues, and in particular to avoid a significant number of cancellations at short notice and on the day.
“The Government and the CAA are concerned that the current resource plans are not delivering this result.”
Earlier in the day Emirates, which operates a dozen flights a day from Heathrow’s Terminal Three, attacked the “incompetence and inaction” that had left the airport in an “armageddon” situation.
She spoke after Heathrow this week asked airlines to help it cope by canceling 1,000 flights over the summer and limiting the number of departing passengers to 100,000 a day.
Emirates led a revolt by foreign airlines, complaining that the airport “gave us 36 hours to accommodate the reduction in capacity, a figure that seems to have been pulled out of nowhere”.
“Their communications not only dictated the specific flights on which we should eject paying passengers, but also threatened legal action for non-compliance.
“Until further notice, Emirates plans to operate as scheduled to and from Heathrow”
Industry figures show Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines have also so far refused to cancel flights from Heathrow.
Under siege, Mr Holland-Kaye defended the airport, dismissing criticism over the airport’s preparations for the re-opening of borders this summer.
Heathrow said Emirates puts “profit before safety”.
A spokesman said: “For months we have been asking the airlines to help come up with a plan to solve their resource challenges, but no clear plans have been forthcoming and the problem is getting worse by the day.
“We had no choice but to take the difficult decision to impose a capacity limit designed to give passengers a better, more reliable journey and ensure the safety of everyone working at the airport. We have tried to provide maximum support to the airlines.
“It would be disappointing if, instead of working together, each airline wanted to put profit before a safe and reliable passenger journey.”
British Airways, whose executives regularly clash with Holland Quay, has sided with the airport and attacked the approach taken by Emirates, which is based in Dubai and is less exposed to Heathrow’s problems.
A British Airways spokesman said Emirates’ action was “incredibly disappointing news for our customers”.
“We have already taken responsible action to reduce our summer schedule to further reduce our program using slot relief to minimize disruption, ensure security for travelers and help airports manage their resources.”
Pressure on Mr Holland-Kaye is mounting as travel restrictions due to the pandemic are lifted.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic chiefs attacked Mr Holland-Kaye for standing by the demands, despite the airport paying its mostly overseas shareholders £4bn in dividends in the years before Covid hit.
Heathrow has tried to increase customer landing charges to make up for losses incurred during the Covid travel restrictions.
Tensions flared earlier this year when The Telegraph revealed that Mr Holland-Kaye was part of a panel selecting the Department for Transport’s next director-general of aviation – one of two senior officials who have now written to him with request for action.
The Heathrow boss withdrew from the process after protests from airlines.
Heathrow’s capacity cuts are just the latest attempt to ease pressure on the airport, which claims it has only 70 percent of the staff it needs.
Last week, British Airways announced it would cancel nearly 12,000 flights between July and October after Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, eased rules forcing airlines to operate a minimum number of services from popular airports such as Heathrow, whether they are full or not. .
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