London Gatwick airport is witnessing largest flight cancellations, 8,000 flyers affected
London Gatwick airport has witnessed third air-traffic control slowdown in September as more than 40 easyjet flights were cancelled. Staff sickness has been cited as the reason behind this, according to reports.
A total of fifty flights to and from the Sussex airport experienced cancellations or diversions, causing substantial disruptions, while numerous other flights faced delays of up to seven hours. This widespread disruption left approximately 8,000 passengers dealing with travel inconveniences. Specifically, eight flights between Gatwick and Belfast were grounded, encompassing six flights connecting to and from Belfast International Airport and two flights serving Belfast City.
Earlier, the London's second-busiest airport stated that it was limiting flights this week, partly because of an outbreak of COVID-19 within air traffic control. In a statement late Monday, the airport said a daily 800-flight limit, affecting both departures and arrivals, has been imposed until Sunday, October 1. Gatwick said around 30 per cent of staff in the division within air traffic control are off sick for a variety of reasons, including COVID-19.
It said the daily cap will prevent last-minute cancellations and delays for passengers while National Air Traffic Services, or NATS, gets back to normal.
The largest number of cancellations will be on Friday, September 29, with 33 departures affected.
NATS apologized to passengers but said that a variety of medical reasons meant it can't manage the normal flows in and out of the airport. Though all the COVID-19 restrictions in Britain were lifted last year, people are advised to stay away from work if they have tested positive for the coronavirus.
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