After two years of pandemic affecting the global travel and tourism, there have been hopes 2022 would see a recovery across Europe. The coming Easter weekend  -  traditionally a 'getaway' opportunity for many - should be the opportunity to boost confidence.

But in the UK, that's not quite how the start of spring has turned out. 

British Airways and easyJet  have canceled dozens of flights in recent days and airports have been overwhelmed as a shortage of staff and high COVID-19 absence levels have coincided with a surge in demand for travel in the run-up to Easter holidays.

While airports across Europe have struggled to recruit and train staff, the problem is particularly acute in Britain where soaring cases of COVID have kept staff at home and many workers deserted the industry for more reliable jobs.

Passenger lines and delays were so bad at Manchester Airport its managing director Karen Smart quit under a barrage of media pressure. 

Charlie Cornish, head of Manchester Airport Holdings (which owns several other UK airports along with Manchester) said the company was aiming to hire more staff, but said the employment market was making it difficult. 

"We are doing this in one of the most challenging employment markets we have seen, with competition from many other businesses that find themselves in the same position," he said. 

But the Civil Aviation Authority said some airlines were not helping themselves, and said airports and carriers should work closer together. 

"Instances of late notice cancellations and excessive delays at airports are not just distressing for affected consumers but have the potential to impact confidence levels across the industry," CAA boss Richard Moriarty said. 

With the delays and difficulties at airports, many tourists traveling to and from the UK have chosen to try to travel by ferry instead. 

While the majority of regular passenger services have sailed without a problem the rise in passenger demand has worked in concert with other factors, like more border checks due to Brexit and COVID-19's knock-on effects, and caused a freight problem on the UK border. 

According to drivers and freight firms, there is a line of 2,000 trucks stretching more than 20 miles along the motorway from Dover Port. 

Dover is one of the worst affected ports for two reasons. Firstly, it has been the busiest freight and passenger port in the UK for many years. And it is the main port used by P&O Ferries, the firm which recently sacked all 800 staff and attempted to replace them with cheaper labor from overseas. That decision is now facing both criminal and civil legal challenges under labor laws.

P&O Ferries is not currently running services due to the ongoing labor dispute. 

While the delays are frustrating for importers and exporters, there is also a human toll. 

"Drivers have to remain trapped inside the trucks, without being able to access adequate resting places or minimum hygienic and sanitary conditions," the Spanish road haulage association complained. 

The drivers' associations said they hope the European Commission put pressure on the UK to solve the situation although so far UK authorities have resisted declaring a 'major incident', which would trigger more substantial practical support for affected drivers.