EasyJet has apologised to customers for failing to “deliver the service they have come to expect from us”.

The airline has blamed problems such as staff shortages in ground handling and at airports, as well as air traffic control delays for resulting in increased turnaround times, delays and cancellations.

It is among a number of airlines grappling with the same issues as the industry struggles to move into the peak season after two years of coronavirus pandemic-related turbulence.

EasyJet’s chief executive said: “Delivering a safe and reliable operation for our customers in this challenging environment is easyJet’s highest priority and we are sorry that for some customers we have not been able to deliver the service they have come to expect from us.

“While in recent weeks the action we have taken to build in further resilience has seen us continue to operate up to 1,700 flights and carry up to a quarter of a million customers a day, the ongoing challenging operating environment has unfortunately continued to have an impact which has resulted in cancellations.

“Coupled with airport caps, we are taking pre-emptive actions to increase resilience over the balance of summer, including a range of further flight consolidations in the affected airports, giving advance notice to customers and we expect the vast majority to be rebooked on alternative flights within 24 hours.

“We believe this is the right action for us to take so we can deliver for all of our customers over the peak summer period in this challenging environment.”

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In the financial quarter ending 30 June, easyJet said it plans to operate 140,000 flights, carrying 22 million passengers.

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This means capacity will be 550% of what it was during the same period last year, when the industry globally was still affected by coronavirus restrictions.

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The airline said that the number of passengers being carried in April and May was seven times the number seen during the same months last year.

The airline said it is “proactively consolidating a number of flights” across airports affected by flight caps, indicating there could be further cancellations in response.

It said that it would provide customers with advance notice and the possibility of being re-booked on alternative flights, adding that its “high frequency network” means many will fly on the same day they had booked for.

Capacity in the quarter ending 30 June is expected to be around 87% of the level seen in 2019 – the most recent year of normal travel conditions – with the quarter ending 30 September expected to be around 90%.

Last month it had said it expected to operate at 90% of 2019 capacity this quarter and around 97% in the fourth quarter.

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