Virgin Atlantic back at Gatwick after U-turn November 15, 2021 Virgin Atlantic could go back to operating from Gatwick airport from next summer after a 18-month hiatus. After being forced to leave the Sussex hub during the peak of the pandemic, the carrier has confirmed Gatwick flights will resume, the Times reported. “We maintain our ambition to rebuild our presence at Gatwick as demand returns, [...]
Use it or Lose it: UK airport coalition calls on government to restore slots November 9, 2021 A coalition of Gatwick, Belfast and Edinburgh airports has urged transport secretary Grant Shapps to restore the ‘Use it or Lose it’ airport rule. Backed by low-cost carrier Wizz Air, the coalition has called on the government to revert to the slot rule – which imposes on airlines to fly, trade or hand back airport [...]
BA goes ahead with Gatwick plans following backing from unions November 9, 2021 British Airways (BA) is expected to go ahead with its plans to operate a short-haul subsidiary from Gatwick following accords with trade unions. Luis Gallego, chief executive of BA’s owner IAG, told Bloomberg Television that agreements were reached with pilots and flight attendants, leaving the company to negotiate only with ground staff – a secure enough [...]
Easyjet goes into the lounge business at Gatwick’s north terminal October 20, 2021 Easyjet announced today its first lounge will open tomorrow at Gatwick airport’s north terminal. Called the Gateway, the space was developed in collaboration with lounge company No1 Lounges. With prices starting at £18.50, the space will allow all travellers – regardless of airline ticket – to eat, drink and work before their flight for one, [...]
Pilots give British Airways the green light on restarting of Gatwick operations October 7, 2021 The British Airlines Pilots Association (Balpa), which represents more than 16,000 UK pilots, has signed off a new agreement with British Airways (BA), after union members agreed to back up the establishment of a British Airways’ subsidiary operating from Gatwick airport. “Balpa and British Airways have concluded an important new agreement covering revised pay and [...]
British Airways looks to U-turn decision to ditch Gatwick short-haul flights October 4, 2021 British Airways (BA) is reportedly looking to U-turn on its decision to ditch short-haul flights from London’s Gatwick airport. Bosses at trade union Balpa reopened talks last week and are planning on taking a new pay deal to pilots, the Telegraph reported. After a gruelling 18-months for the travel industry, the airline ditched short-haul flights [...]
Holiday-goers could fork out as much as £105m on airport drop-off fees next year October 1, 2021 Holiday-goers leaving the UK could fork out as much as £105m in airport drop-off fees once traveller numbers return to pre-pandemic levels, according to new research. Most of the country’s busiest airports charge such fees, with the average cost standing at £3.54 – while Heathrow is set to introduce a £5 fee from November, the [...]
British Airways ditches Gatwick after union scuppers plans for cut-price subsidiary September 23, 2021 British Airways has canned plans to launch a budget subsidiary based out of Gatwick airport and will instead pull out of the airport permanently. BA pulled operations out of Gatwick at the beginning of the Covid pandemic and had planned to relaunch there, but with a budget unit. However, the launch a short-haul subsidiary at [...]
Pre-departure Covid tests may be ditched to simplify travel restrictions September 15, 2021 Ministers plan to make an announcement later this week which will mean vaccinated people arriving into England will no longer be subject to pre-departure Covid tests, according to reports. A government insider told the Financial Times, which first reported the news, that measures to simplify travel restrictions and aid the UK’s struggling travel and tourism [...]
No more green lists and amber lists? Traffic light system set to go by October September 9, 2021 The traffic light system for travel during the Covid era – detested by the industry as complex and unecessary – looks set to be replaced, with an announcement due by the end of the month. The UK government is due to assess the necessity of the system, which delegates destinations as green list, amber list [...]