September 27, (THEWILL) – Gatwick Airport, London’s second-busiest, is limiting flights this week, partly because of an outbreak of COVID-19 within air traffic control.
Although there are four airports in the UK – Heathrow, Gatwick, London City, and Stansted Airports.
But Gatwick, specifically in a statement issued Monday, stated that a daily 800-flight limit, affecting both departures and arrivals, has been imposed until Sunday.
The ever-busy airport added that around 30% 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.
Stewart Wingate, the airport’s chief executive, said the decision “means we can prevent as many disruptions as possible.”
The largest number of cancellations will be on Friday, Sept. 29, with 33 departures affected.
NATS apologised to passengers, but said that a variety of medical reasons meant it couldn’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.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
