"They have treated them with complete contempt": MPs slam TUI over flight cancellations and lack of transparency

MPs have slammed TUI after the airline announced they were cancelling nearly 200 flights from Manchester Airport over the next month - but declined to say which ones.

The holiday operator said earlier it was pulling 186 flights, a total of six a day and 43 a week, due to staff shortages and other "ongoing challenges" in their operation at Manchester Airport - understood to be the only hub in the country impacted by the planned raft of cancellations.

It means the holiday plans of 34,000 passengers are to be left in tatters. The firm has declined to answer the Manchester Evening News’ requests for a list of those services impacted, instead simply saying they will be contacting all affected customers by text or email by the end of today.

READ MORE: More than 30,000 TUI passengers will have their Manchester Airport flights cancelled 'by the end of today'

They have said they will receive a full refund. However, two Greater Manchester MPs - former airport boss Graham Stringer and Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner - say that will be of little comfort to families many of whom will have been looking forward to their first holiday in a number of years following the pandemic.

They have now hit out at the company's treatment of customers and accused them of a lack of transparency.

MP for Ashton-under-Lyne Ms Rayner said: “To have a holiday cancelled at the last minute is a real kick in the teeth for families in my constituency and across Greater Manchester, many of whom were looking forward to their first time abroad since the pandemic.

“Problems of delays, cancellations and baggage issues at Manchester Airport have been well documented for the past few months and this is yet another blow for travellers who were hoping to