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Across the globe, travel has significantly picked up from the lull it experienced during COVID. People are back on the road, back on trains, and back on planes.

Some travel for work or business, whereas others travel for pleasure. Thanks to the rise of remote work and the digital nomad lifestyle, growing numbers of people are discovering the ability to build their careers from virtually anywhere around the world.

Amid this uptick in demand for travel, the airline industry has struggled to provide the necessary accommodations in some cases. In 2021 and even 2022, travelers in the United States experienced significant delays and cancellations of their flights, largely owing to staffing shortages and other similar problems.

Though one of the latest travel disturbances is happening at Gatwick Airport based in London, England.

What travelers going through Gatwick need to know

This week, Gatwick Airport faces a considerable number of staffers who feel sick and therefore unable to work. According to the British National Air Traffic Services (NATS), more than 160 flights this week may be subject to cancellation.

Gatwick has also begun placing limits on the number of flights throughout the airport each day. Wednesday saw a reduction of 29 flights, whereas the flights on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday will see reductions of 40, 65, and 30.

In further news, NATS recently announced that because 30% of Gatwick staffers are sick, there just isn't enough bandwidth to move forward with the original schedule of flights. At least some of the cases of sickness have been attributed to COVID.

Recourse for impacted travelers

Travelers facing flight cancellations will likely be made aware at least 24 hours before their flight's scheduled takeoff time. However, Gatwick continues advising people to check the status of their flights with their airlines before coming to the airport.

In Britain, travelers impacted by flight cancellations remain entitled to refunds or placement on a different flight. So far, the airlines most likely to suffer from the problems facing Gatwick are British Airways, EasyJet, Tui, RyanAir, and Wizz Air.

Going into October, travelers can expect additional updates on the situation as it pertains to flights through Gatwick Airport.