Gatwick Airport will consolidate operations into the South Terminal from 1 April and limit runway opening hours
Gatwick will close its North Terminal and consolidate operations into the South Terminal from 1 April, for a month, due to the lack of demand for air travel because of COVID-19. The runway to be in use between 1400 and 2200 for scheduled flights, but will be available for emergency landings and diversions only, outside these hours. The situation will be reviewed after a month, by 1st May. A decision on reopening the North Terminal will be taken when airline traffic eventually increases and Government public health advice – including on social distancing – is relaxed. Gatwick is hoping to make out that it is being “responsible” in closing, to protect the health of its staff and passengers, while it has been quite happy to have as many flights as it can, to and from other countries suffering high levels of Covid-19 infection, up until now. It is only closing because of the economics, and to “protect its business.” In addition London City Airport has announced that it was suspending all commercial and private flights until the end of April. It is also possible that Birmingham Airport could serve as a mortuary during the Coronavirus crisis.
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Gatwick Airport will consolidate operations into the South Terminal from 1 April and limit runway opening hours
27.3.2020 (Gatwick Press release)
Gatwick Airport will consolidate operations into the South Terminal from 1 April and limit to protect staff, passengers and the business from the impact of COVID-19
Runway to be in use between 1400 and 2200 for scheduled flights, and remains available for emergency landings and diversions only outside these hours.
Measures to be in place from 1st April for one month, with the situation kept under regular review
The severe and unparalleled impact of COVID-19 on the global aviation sector has led Gatwick to make the difficult decision to consolidate passenger processing and facilities into the airport’s South Terminal and to limit scheduled flights on its runway to between 1400 and 2200, with effect from 1 April 2020.
As a responsible business, the airport has made this decision to protect the health and safety of passengers and staff, and to shield the business following a dramatic fall in airline traffic.
The airport’s operations will be consolidated into the South Terminal and the runway will remain open for emergency landings and diversions only outside these hours.
The temporary closure of the North Terminal will last a minimum of one month and the situation will be kept under regular review. A decision taken on reopening the North Terminal when airline traffic increases and Government public health advice – including on social distancing – is relaxed.
The decision to scale back the airport’s operations has been discussed with the airport’s airline partners and any passengers booked on flights due to depart or arrive at Gatwick during this period are advised to contact their airline.
Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, Gatwick Airport, said: “Gatwick is a resilient but also responsible business and during these extraordinary times we need to take unprecedented measures to protect the health and wellbeing of our staff and passengers, while also shielding the business from the impact of Coronavirus.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my staff for their continuing hard work through this difficult time and to reassure them that we are taking these difficult decisions now, so that we are in a position to recover quickly and get back to generating jobs and economic benefits for the region and wider economy well into the future.
“During these extraordinary times, we have also seen remarkable acts of kindness and community spirit in support of people who may need some additional help. To add to this, we will also be providing some opportunities so that any of our staff, who have time during this period of reduced operations, that choose to, can help support people in our local communities.”
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Gatwick Airport to scale back operations from April as demand collapses due to coronavirus
By REBECCA SPEARE-COLE (The Evening Standard)
Gatwick Airport has announced it will reduce its operations from next month as travel demand collapses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The West Sussex hub said it will close its North Terminal – one of its two terminals – from April 1.
From then, its runway will also only open for scheduled flights between 2pm and 10pm.
The measures will be in place for a minimum of one month.
Many flights are now set to be cancelled as operations are scaled back, the airport added.
It comes as the global aviation industry suffers devastating losses while countries enforce travel bans and restrictions amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
The UK Foreign Office has issued a travel warning advising Brits to avoid all but essential travel to any country for 30 days.
The Government has also imposed strict lockdown rules for at least three weeks, like ordering Brits to self-isolate at home, and have rolled out harsh penalties for those who break them.
Gatwick’s chief executive Stewart Wingate said: “Gatwick is a resilient but also responsible business and during these extraordinary times we need to take unprecedented measures to protect the health and well-being of our staff and passengers, while also shielding the business from the impact of coronavirus.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my staff for their continuing hard work through this difficult time and to reassure them that we are taking these difficult decisions now, so that we are in a position to recover quickly and get back to generating jobs and economic benefits for the region and wider economy well into the future.”
Gatwick is the UK’s second busiest airport, recording 47 million passengers last year.
Its runway will remain available for emergency landings and diversions outside the new opening hours.
Airlines have suspended the majority of their flights due to demand plummeting and countries around the world introducing travel restrictions in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus.
London City Airport announced on Wednesday that it was suspending all commercial and private flights from that night.
Flights to and from the east London hub will be suspended from this evening until the end of April.
From next week, Southend Airport will only open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between 4.30pm and 9.30pm.
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