Tail Fins of British Airways planes are seen parked at Heathrow airport as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, London, Britain, March 31, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLONDON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - British Airways has halted ticket sales on short-haul flights from Heathrow until August 8 following the London airport's decision to cap capacity and tackle widespread disruption and cancellations.The IAG (ICAG.L)-owned airline said the sales suspension on domestic and European destinations was designed to allow existing customers to rebook flights when needed.Airlines and airports across Britain and Europe have struggled to cope with the rebound in post-lockdown travel, with many failing to recruit enough staff to handle check-ins and baggage handling.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comHeathrow, like Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, has told airlines to limit the number of tickets they sell over the summer, after it capped the number of passengers flying from the hub at 100,000 a day to limit queues, baggage delays and cancellations.Heathrow said last week that the cap had delivered a marked improvement in punctuality and baggage handling."As a result of Heathrow's request to limit new bookings, we've decided to take responsible action and limit the available fares on some Heathrow services to help maximise rebooking options for existing customers, given the restrictions imposed on us and the ongoing challenges facing the entire aviation industry," BA said in a statement.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Kate Holton, Editing by Kylie MacLellanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
BA halts short-haul ticket sales until Aug. 8.