HOLIDAYMAKERS jetting off from Teesside Airport have been issued a warning as TUI returns for the first time after almost a decade.
The holiday operator has named the North East airport among a dozen where flight operations could be hampered due to "staff shortages."
Saying that there will be no hot and cold meals or sandwiches on a number of its international routes, the operator is urging customers to bring their own onboard.
Read more: First holidaymakers to take off on TUI flight from Teesside to Palma next week
It comes just 24 hours before the first TUI flight is set to depart Teesside after a ten-year break from flying out of the airport.
In a statement issued by the operator, it said: "We can confirm that unfortunately due to staff shortages with our catering supplier, there will be no hot and cold meals or sandwiches, and a limited offering of snacks and drinks, available onboard TUI Airways short and mid-haul flights over the coming days.
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"Customers may therefore want to bring their own food and soft drinks onboard, although no alcohol is permitted.
“Any soft drinks over 100ml will need to be purchased after you have passed through security."
The operator added that the disruption is not likely to affect long-haul flights to destinations including Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Orlando and St Lucia and that services on these flights will "continue to operate as normal."
Among Teesside Airport, TUI also named the following departure airports where short and mid-haul flights will be impacted.
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Doncaster Sheffield
- Dublin
- East Midlands
- Edinburgh
- Exeter
- Glasgow
- Humberside
- Leeds Bradford
- Luton
- Manchester
- Norwich
- Teesside
The operator has said it is “continually monitoring the situation” and that it is “working closely” with suppliers to help limit the impact.
That means that some routes may actually see services restored, although with limitations to the menu offered.
As Teesside Airport prepares to welcome the arrival of TUI tomorrow (May 10), Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “We’re looking forward to seeing TUI return to Teesside next week for the first time in a decade, better yet that it's full of passengers.
"Seeing our airport busy and being used by local people to head off on their holidays to Majorca just shows how far we have come.
“We are ready for our best summer yet thanks to the multimillion-pound terminal redevelopment making it quicker and easier than ever before to fly from Teesside.
“With a growing number of holiday flights, full capacity, we can’t wait to welcome many more passengers for a well-deserved break away this summer after a tough couple of years.”
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