Many UK airlines are resuming a limited flight schedule from next month after grinding their fleet to a halt amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
EasyJet, Jet 2, Ryanair and British Airways are among the airlines to issue recent statements regarding updates on flights and refunds.
The UK government currently advises against all non-essential flight travel, but this is reportedly set to be addressed and altered over the coming weeks.
It looks to offer a fresh hope for holidaymakers ahead of the summer season.
Here is everything you need to know about flights running this year and current refund situations.
This is set to start with domestic routes only, followed by half of its 1,022 fleet flying overseas from July, and then by August, 75% of routes will be operating, but only with around 30% its normal flying capacity between July – September.
EasyJet passengers looking for a refund have been offered three alternative options – a cash refund, a free flight change or a voucher and goodwill credit.
Cash refunds could take between 28 – 90 days to be processed at present.
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The airline has waived the flight date change fee, so you can transfer for FREE onto any other easyJet flight within Europe up until May 2021.
For a voucher and credit, you will receive the voucher of the full cost of the flight, with goodwill options including a £50 easyJet Holidays voucher, or a £5 easyJet flight voucher.
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Jet 2
Jet2 has announced a postponement to the launch of their flights.
The airline is set to resume from 15th July 15 to around 40 European destinations including Spain, Portugal and Greece.
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Regarding refunds, Jet2 is allowing passengers to either move their flight booking to another date without charge, or to use a credit note within six months.
Passengers wishing for a refund will have to contact Jet2 directly.
If you’re looking for more information, it’s advised to visit the Jet 2 website here.
It’s believed that 1,000 daily flights to popular destinations including Spain, Greece and Portugal will be the target and Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary declared on Good Morning Britain that thousands of families had already booked a trip abroad in July and August.
Due to “an unprecedented record backlog of cancellations”, Ryanair passengers looking for refunds have been told they can be expected to wait 10 – 12 weeks.
Many passengers are instead being offered credit notes instead of refunds, which will convert back to a refund if not used within 12 months.
In an email to customers, the airline explains: “Please note that if you do not use the voucher before the expiry date you will receive a full cash refund. In the event you use the voucher in part, you will also receive the option of voucher for the balance or a cash refund after the expiry date.”
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British Airways
British Airways has announced that it hopes to resume flights from 1st July, starting with just eight routes from London Heathrow Airport.
International flights will resume to 29 destinations within North America, Asia and Africa later in July.
There has been no indication of when flight travel from Manchester Airport is set to resume.
British Airways customers with affected flights are entitled to a cash refund by calling its customer service, but due to high demand, it may be difficult to get through. Alternatively, passengers can claim a voucher to use for a flight booking before the end of April 2022 by filling in an online form.
The airline is also offering Avios points as an option for cancelled flights.
You can find out more information regarding refunds via the British Airways website here.
News
‘Ambitious’ new plans to tackle fly-tipping and litter across Manchester revealed
Emily Sergeant
An ambitious new plan to tackle flytipping and litter across Manchester has been revealed.
Developed with extensive input from residents, partners, businesses, and schools all across the borough, Manchester City Council has this week unveiled and formally approved the Fly-Tipping and Litter Strategy as a long‑term plan to significantly reduce the improper disposal of waste and its drain on public money, all while improving neighbourhood cleanliness across the city.
The strategy sets out a framework over nine years, backed by targeted enforcement, service improvements, and behaviour‑change campaigns to drive significant impact for thousands of Mancs.
As it stands, the Council removes litter as part of its scheduled services – with 6,563 reports responded to and 11,952 fines issued in 2024-25 – but is having to take things up a notch due to a consistent rise in littering incidents, as well as the ever-present issue of fly-tipping.
‘Ambitious’ new plans to tackle fly-tipping and litter across Manchester have been revealed / Credit: oatsy40 (via Flickr)
Nationally, England saw 1.15 million incidents of flytipping in 2023/24, with household waste accounting for more than 60% of cases, while here in Manchester, the city recorded a whopping 14,963 fly‑tipping incidents in 2024/25.
According to the Council, fly-tipping in Manchester usually occurs on roads and pavements (59%), and alleyways (22%).
The Council’s new Fly-tipping and Litter Strategy will be formally launched next month to coincide with the beginning of the Great British Spring Clean, and is hoped to signal a commitment to creating ‘cleaner, safer, and greener’ neighbourhoods for everyone.
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“The Fly-Tipping and Litter Strategy is a significant step towards improving the long-term health of Manchester’s communities,” explained Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, who is the Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, as the plans were unveiled this week.
“We recognised how important it is to hear from residents, people who live and work in the city, themselves and so we have developed this strategy in close consultation through their lived experiences and advice.
“While we already have key initiatives we work under, in addition to several other strategies and projects, this new strategy sets to galvanise and advance the work our services and communities are doing to ensure Manchester becomes cleaner and greener for everyone.”
Featured Image – MJ Richardson (via Geograph)
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Mancs start crowdfunder for Mani mural in honour of late, great, local music legend
Danny Jones
A group of Manchester artists, audiophiles and residents have started a fundraiser to create a new mural in memory of the late, great local music legend, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield.
Following The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bass player’s passing last year, the city and Greater Manchester as a whole have been finding ways to honour the Manc musician ever since.
Be it lining his funeral cortege from his home in Heaton Moor, Stockport, or peers like The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess penning heartfelt tributes, anyone and everyone has found their own way of paying their respects in the months since.
Taking the sustained sentiment even further, local art collective GRIT Studios is now planning to erect a massive mural in his memory.
We’re doing a massive mural for Manchester’s most loved son – Mani. All profits to @maggiesmanc a charity that was close to his heart.
Writing on the fundraising page’s description, GRIT say: “Inspired by Ian Brown’s eulogy to Mani at Manchester Cathedral, a major community crowdfunder is being launched to create a large-scale mural honouring the beloved bassist of The Stone Roses and Primal Scream and to raise funds for Maggie’s Manchester.
“The mural, which will be created in Failsworth, where young Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield grew up, has been initiated by the team at GRIT Studios following an overwhelming outpouring of love from fans across Greater Manchester and beyond.
“Mani’s brother, Greg Mounfield, is supporting this campaign and has facilitated a prominent, large wall space for the mural and chosen the design.
They go on to to explan that the piece “will be painted by the renowned artist Pic.One.Art, whose recent portrait of Noel and Liam Gallagher outside the iconic Sifters Records in Burnage became an instant landmark and received widespread attention.”
Speaking of Brown’s now viral speech, it still remains one of the most touching bits of public observance and shared mourning this city has ever seen – with a healthy little dose of Northern levity, of course.
@the.manc Yesterday, Manchester laid one of the city's greatest music legends, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield, to rest at Manchester Cathedral. 🍋 Fellow band member and life-long friend Ian Brown read out a speech as hundreds gathered outside the cathedral to pay their respects to The Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist. Mani will be missed by many, and we send love to all his family and friends. ❤️ #manchester#mani#ianbrown#thestoneroses#stoneroses♬ original sound – The Manc
“Since Mani passed away in November, countless fans have expressed a desire to see a tribute in the place that shaped him in North Manchester”, they continue.
“GRIT Studios, the not-for-profit art studios organisation, has stepped forward to organise a community-led, crowdfunded project that celebrates Mani’s life, music and spirit.
“It will not only fund the creation of the mural, but all profits will go to Maggie’s Manchester, which was close to Mani and his wife Imelda’s hearts during her cancer treatment and for whom they fundraised.
With a target of £10,000 set and more than £6k already raised in just a matter of days, it looks to be a matter of when, not if, we’ll see Mani immortalised in paint, on brick and with typical Manc grit over in the borough of Oldham.
For anyone who wishes to contribute to the fast-growing Mani mural crowdfunder, you can do so HERE.
The Manc -
10th June 2020 
