There were similar scenes at Dover this weekend, which is still feeling the effects of the P&O situation.
Elsewhere, permanent pandemic-style loans are being considered for small businesses, while Manchester is to get an indoor beach attraction.
Here are the major travel headlines the industry woke up to on Monday 4 April.
EasyJet cancels flights due to Covid among staff
EasyJet has cancelled around 100 flights on Monday, including 62 from the UK, blaming higher than usual levels of staff absence due to Covid. The airline said it had tried to offset the problem by using standby crew but was forced to make some cancellations in advance. (BBC News)
Chaos continues at Manchester airport
Travellers have criticised the ongoing "chaos" at Manchester airport after several missed their flights following staff shortages. The airport said several factors, including recruitment challenges, were “putting an enormous strain on our operation". (BBC News)
Channel ferry chaos still impacting departures
Drivers have this morning reported two-hour long waits for the Port of Dover. Yesterday gridlocked traffic around Dover, poor conditions in the Channel and the suspension of P&O services caused delays of up to nine hours at the Kent port. (The Daily Mail)
Covid business loan scheme ‘could be made permanent’
The government is in talks with banks to provide a permanent replacement for loan programmes that helped SMEs during the pandemic. The scheme is expected to focus on SMEs that would otherwise struggle to find financing at affordable terms from their lending banks. (Financial Times)
Government urged to ‘come clean’ over P&O
Unions have urged the government to “come clean” over plans for employees’ rights, with fears it is stalling new legislation following the P&O Ferries scandal. It is feared a Bill aimed at beefing-up rights could be dropped from the Queen’s Speech on May 10. Unions fear “a green light to rogue employers to treat staff like disposable labour”. (Daily Mirror)
Manchester to have tropical beach
The UK’s first all-season beach is to be opened as part of a £250 million indoor waterpark featuring 35 water slides. Therme Group plans to open the attraction near the Trafford Centre by 2025. (The Sun)
