The watchdog said government must work with airports and airlines to ensure hubs and carriers are adequately resourced in future.

Which? Travel editor Rory Boland branded the situation, which has escalated in recent weeks, a shambles. He also called on the Department for Transport to give the CAA more stringent powers to sanction airports and airlines.

Manchester airport has perhaps attracted the most criticism, with managing director Karen Smart standing down.

However, issues have been raised at most major UK airports owing to a combination of staff shortages and high levels of Covid infection.

Earlier this month, CAA chief Richard Moriarty wrote to UK airports and airlines urging them to work together more closely to "manage resourcing challenges" and ensure disruption is "kept to a minimum".

“Lessons should be learnt from the travel shambles this Easter," said Boland. "With many in the industry predicting a busy summer, the government must work with airlines and airports to ensure they have the resources and capacity to handle increased passenger numbers, as there can be no excuse for a repeat of these failings."

Boland added: “Airlines wouldn’t be ignoring the law and their passengers’ rights if the aviation regulator had some teeth. The Department for Transport can support consumers by equipping the Civil Aviation Authority with direct fining powers.

"It should also drop its plans to change compensation rules for UK flights which are an important deterrent against passengers being treated unfairly.”