Also, Ryanair has again blasted Brexit recruitment barriers, while one Australian couple is booked onto a separate flight from their baby.

Here is the news affecting travel on Friday 22 July.

Big summer getaway begins

Chaos-hit airports face the biggest test since before the Covid crisis struck as the great summer getaway begins. After shambolic scenes at airports in recent months, more rail strikes planned and fuel prices near record high, some families will be fearing the journeys ahead. (Daily Mirror)

Fuel price protests to hamper summer getaway

Fuel price protests are set to make traffic jams even worse during what is expected to be the busiest summer getaway in at least eight years, police have said. Slow-moving roadblocks” are planned on parts of the M4, M5, M32 and A38 on Friday. (Evening Standard)

Ryanair urges ‘common sense’ over Brexit jobs

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has urged a more "common sense" approach to post-Brexit employment policy. O’Leary said he could hire people from continental Europe for jobs he cannot fill with British workers, but is unable to get visas for them. He said he could obtain visas for Moroccan cabin crew, but not “Portuguese or Italian or Slovakian youngsters”. (BBC News)

Qantas puts baby on separate flight from parents

An Australian couple has slammed Qantas for booking their 13-month-old onto a different flight to them. Qantas allegedly told the couple it said done nothing wrong because it had booked the child a ticket. After nearly a day on hold, Qantas agreed to move the family to a replacement flight from Rome 12 days after their intended departure. (The Independent)

Sri Lanka protestors injured

Several protesters have been injured after Sri Lankan forces raided an anti-government camp at the president’s office. Media footage showed soldiers in riot gear armed with assault rifles tearing down the camp set up by demonstrators in April. (Sky News)