Summer travel chaos as Gatwick contends with passenger diversions and looming strikes

Disruption this summer is also expected as a result of the threat of delays and cancellations amid a shortage of air traffic control (ATC) staff.

Ryanair has already scrapped dozens of flights after a shortfall in controllers at a major Dutch ATC centre left planes out of position and unable to perform morning departures.

Meanwhile, police arrested 27 Just Stop Oil protesters on Friday on suspicion of planning to cause widespread disruption at airports during the summer holidays.

Scotland Yard said arrests took place across the country and a number of “key organisers” had been detained.

The force said coordinated raids had taken place in 10 counties, including London, Oxford, Surrey, Norfolk, Manchester and West Yorkshire.

JSO had previously hinted that it planned to disrupt summer holidays in a “sustained period of action”, warning that an attack on Stansted Airport last week, where two private jets were sprayed with orange paint, was just a “prelude”.

All the suspects were arrested under a section of the Public Order Act which makes it illegal to conspire to disrupt national infrastructure.

The arrests began on Tuesday, when four people were arrested after “being identified at Gatwick Airport”.

They have since been released on bail.