The Know Daily - Tuesday 11 July 2023

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Researchers have discovered a rare, deep-sea octopus nursery off the shore of Costa Rica, bringing the world’s known octopus nurseries to a total of three. Breathtaking footage of the brooding site - found 2,800m below sea level - has shown babies hatching, mothers protecting their young and even a potential new octopus species.

🛫 Up in the air

EasyJet has cancelled more than 1,700 flights over “unprecedented” issues with air traffic control in Europe.

What’s the story?
Around 180,000 passengers have been told that their departures in July, August and September have been cancelled, with easyJet saying that 95% of affected travellers have been rebooked onto other flights.

The carrier has said that the cancellations are not the result of ground staff shortages - the problem which forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights last summer - but are instead due to “unprecedented” air traffic control delays. EasyJet claims these delays are three times worse than they were before the pandemic.

“The move will prompt fresh concern about the resilience of squeezed European airspace to deal with booming demand, with more air traffic control strikes threatened,” reported The Guardian.

Why is airspace being “squeezed”?
Eurocontrol, which manages airspace around Europe, has warned of “challenging conditions” this summer, with the war in Ukraine constraining available flight paths. There is also the threat of frequent strike action among air control staff, particularly in France, which would further constrain available airspace.

The organisation has said there will be “high overloads” of traffic on most days in many important cities, including Marseilles, Athens and Budapest. This can result in “aircraft being forced to fly longer routes to avoid constricted areas”, explained The Times.

What’s going on at airports?
While Heathrow security workers called off planned summer strikes following an improved pay offer, around 100 security officers and terminal technicians will begin continuous strike action from 18 July at Birmingham Airport.

Reuters has a handy guide to the possible industrial action affecting airports across Europe this summer.