BA gives Gatwick passengers option to cancel or re-arrange tomorrow’s flights
Some 72,500 passengers have had their Christmas travel plans thrown into chaos by a drone, which has forced the closure of Gatwick Airport since late yesterday evening.
The figures were released by Gatwick as defence secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed that the army has drafted in to try to locate the drone. He said they would use their ‘range of unique capabilities’ to track the drone and bring it down.
More than 60 police officers have failed to trap the drone, which has been spotted close to the airfield sevral times since around 9pm yesterday. Transport secretary Chris Grayling said the government was doing everything it could to end the incident, and called for the culprit to be given the maximum jail sentence of five years when caught.
The airport said more than 200 outbound flights had been grounded and more than 200 inbound flights had either been cancelled or diverted today. EasyJet has cancelled all flights from Gawick later today, even if the airport reopens.
British Airways has issued a statement saying that passengers due to travel today and tomorrow had the option to rebook to a later date or cancel with a full refund.
The airline said it was offering additional support to customers, including handing out refreshments and meal vouchers. Staff are also being bussed in from Heathrow to help out and extra Gatwick staff have been drafted in. Passengers have been told that they can claim back meals and taxis and other necessary expenses if they kept receipts, it said. Those whose flights have been diverted will be bussed to their final destination, it added.
"Our airport teams are working to minimise the disruption for our customers at what we know is a very important time of year," said a spokesperson. "We are offering customers travelling to or from Gatwick today and tomorrow a range of rebook and refund options, and encouraging them to check ba.com for the latest information about their flight before they leave home."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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