Flight cancellations today – live: EasyJet and BA planes grounded at Gatwick and Heathrow

Thousands of easyJet passengers – many of them stranded abroad – have woken to the news that their flights have been cancelled.

The Independent has calculated at least 60 easyJet flights are grounded on Tuesday, adding to the hundreds cancelled over the bank holiday weekend. Ahn estimated 10,000 passengers are affected – including some who are still trying to get home from Mediterranean islands such as Ibiza, Malta and Sicily.

Ali Haynes, her partner and five-month-old baby arrived at Luton airport three hours before departure for Palermo, as easyJet had requested.

She tweeted: “Two hours before, when we’re checked in and through security … text message ‘flight cancelled’.

The government is under mounting pressure to add aviation jobs to its Shortage Occupations list – reducing hurdles for EU workers to help fill gaps at overstretched airports and airlines.

Meanwhile the government insists that airlines and airports are to blame, and says Brexit provides huge benefits for UK air passengers.

Thousands more airline passengers saw their travel plans thrown into disarray on Tuesday as the sector struggles to cope with staff shortages.

EasyJet axed at least 35 flights on Tuesday, with Gatwick the worst affected airport.

Hungarian carrier Wizz Air scrapped at least seven flights due to serve UK airports.

British Airways cancelled 124 Heathrow flights, although the airline said affected passengers were given advance notice.

After members of the RMT rail union voted 8:1 in favour of strike action over jobs, pay and conditions, their union has called nationwide rail strikes for three dates in late June.

Union members at Network Rail and 13 train operators will stage 24-hour walkouts on 21, 23 and 25 June.

What could the effect be? And are other disputes on the horizon?

Here is Simon Calder with the key questions and answers:

Transport secretary Grant Shapps has described the planned rail strike action as “incredibly disappointing”, warning it could “drive passengers away from the rail network for good.”

He said: “The pandemic has changed travel habits – with 25 per cent fewer ticket sales and the taxpayer stepping in to keep the railways running at a cost of £16 billion, equivalent to £600 per household. We must act now to put the industry on a sustainable footing.

“We are working with industry to reduce disruption caused by strike action, but unions are jumping the gun by announcing this when talks have only just begun.

“We once again want to urge the unions to come to talks with the rail industry so we can work together to build a better, more modern, passenger-focused railway.”

Rail strikes have been announced for three dates in late June after workers voted in favour of industrial action.

RMT union members at Network Rail and 13 train operators will stage 24-hour walkouts on 21, 23 and 25 June. The industrial action coincides with several big events including Glastonbury.

According to the RMT, it will be “the biggest dispute on the network since 1989” and involve 40,000 workers. The union’s general secretary, Mick Lynch, has vowed “a sustained campaign of industrial action which will shut down the railway system”.

Helen Coffey and Simon Calder have the details:

The rail and Tube strikes will cause travel chaos for people going to a number of events, including concerts, test match cricket and the Glastonbury festival.

Services are likely to be affected throughout the week because of the knock-on impact on trains and crews.

Glastonbury starts on 22 June and runs until 26 June, with many festivalgoers planning to travel to the site by train.

Other events that week include England playing New Zealand in a test match in Leeds, the British athletics championships in Manchester, and gigs in London’s Hyde Park by Elton John (24 June) and the Rolling Stones (25 June).

There will also be a Commonwealth Heads of government meeting in London on 24/25 June and it is Armed Forces Day on 25 June.

With additional reporting from PA

Another 24-hour strike on the London Underground has been announced – after widespread industrial action yesterday brought the network to a halt.

Workers who are members of the RMT union will take industrial action on Tuesday 21 June over jobs and pensions.

The Tube strike will coincide with a series of rail strikes that are scheduled for 21, 23, and 25 June.

The union said the strike over pay freezes and job cuts will be the biggest on the railways since 1989.

Holidaymakers preparing to travel to and from Italy tomorrow are advised to double-check the status of their flight as possible strike action could disrupt their plans.

Easyjet has reported on its website that multiple strike actions in Italy could be taken on Wednesday 8 June.

Flight crew from Easyjet, Ryanair, and Volotea will strike in response to “long-lasting personnel issues,” the English-language Italian news site The Local reported.

They are set to walk-out between 10am and 2pm, it also reported.

Easyjet says on its website: “Like all airlines operating to and from Italy, we may see some disruption to our flying programme on this date.

“We advise customers due to travel to, from or within Italy on 8 June to check the status of their flights on our Flight Tracker on our mobile app or website at www.easyjet.com/(Your flight number).

“Although this is outside of our control, we would like to reassure customers that we are doing all possible to minimise any disruption that may occur as a result of the strike action.”