Aircraft unavailability has forced Dutch low-cost airline Transavia to scrap more flights. The airline is facing an airplane shortage due to unresolved maintenance issues and delays in operating its leased planes. The latest disruption to its schedule comes after Transavia was forced to cull some flights in April and May.
More cancellation
Transavia’s summer schedule continues to be affected, with the airline announcing further cancellations in June. More than 300 flights to and from the Netherlands have been cancelled, almost all of them in the month of June.
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According to NL Times, 96 departures and 97 arrivals at Schiphol Airport, 53 departures and the same number of arrivals at Eindhoven Airport, and 18 each at Rotterdam The Hague Airport have been cancelled. Flights to destinations in Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Greece, and Italy are among those that are affected. The airline released a statement that said,
“We realise full well that in doing so, we will be ruining travel plans. We apologise for this frustrating situation. This is, of course, not the good trip that you should expect from us.
“We are doing everything we can to take as many passengers as possible to their destinations. Around 95% of our flights can go on as scheduled. However, this also means that we still have to change or cancel a number of them.”
What options do passengers have?
Transavia has listed passenger rights on its website in case of cancellations. Travelers can choose between getting their money back or opting for a different flight.
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But according to the airline, its schedule disruptions will last beyond June. Transavia has warned that some flights in July and August will also be cancelled, and passengers on the affected flights will be informed on May 25th.
Aircraft shortage
Transavia’s flight disruptions are rooted in the airline not having enough active planes to meet demand. Reports say that the budget carrier is facing multiple issues, including delays in aircraft maintenance and repairs and operating leased planes.
Last month, the carrier stated that two of its planes will be out of action due to maintenance delays, with the airline waiting on Boeing to provide spare parts. Some of its leased aircraft are also taking longer to start operations due to “problems with paperwork,” speculated to be an issue with their safety certifications.
Photo: T.W. van Urk/Shutterstock
A news outlet also mentioned in April that the airline has a shortage of engineering staff, contributing to maintenance delays. Many were reportedly ill, and some were in training to prepare for the airline’s incoming Airbus A321neos arriving this year. Per ch-aviation, Transavia currently has 37 active airplanes in its fleet.
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