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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: British Airways suspends all Gatwick flights | Coronavirus: British Airways suspends all Gatwick flights |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British Airways will suspend all flights to and from London's Gatwick airport amid a collapse in demand due to the coronavirus. | British Airways will suspend all flights to and from London's Gatwick airport amid a collapse in demand due to the coronavirus. |
| It follows EasyJet's suspension of flights after the government advised against all but essential travel. | It follows EasyJet's suspension of flights after the government advised against all but essential travel. |
| British Airways told staff it was facing a challenging market environment in "unprecedented circumstances", according to an email seen by the BBC. | British Airways told staff it was facing a challenging market environment in "unprecedented circumstances", according to an email seen by the BBC. |
| The airline said it would contact customers to "discuss their options". | The airline said it would contact customers to "discuss their options". |
| "Due to the considerable restrictions and challenging market environment, like many other airlines, we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick," the airline said in a statement. | "Due to the considerable restrictions and challenging market environment, like many other airlines, we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick," the airline said in a statement. |
| Shares in IAG, which owns British Airways, have more than halved in value since the beginning of the month. Although its share price rose by 8.4% to 218.7p on Tuesday. | Shares in IAG, which owns British Airways, have more than halved in value since the beginning of the month. Although its share price rose by 8.4% to 218.7p on Tuesday. |
| While BA continues to fly from its main hub of Heathrow, it does so on a much reduced timetable as travellers scramble to make it back to the UK. | While BA continues to fly from its main hub of Heathrow, it does so on a much reduced timetable as travellers scramble to make it back to the UK. |
| Yesterday, EasyJet grounded its entire fleet of planes and said it could not give a date for when they will restart. | Yesterday, EasyJet grounded its entire fleet of planes and said it could not give a date for when they will restart. |
| Repatriation | Repatriation |
| BA, EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic are among airlines working with the government to fly Britons back to the UK. | BA, EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic are among airlines working with the government to fly Britons back to the UK. |
| The government has also pledged £75m to charter special flights to bring home UK nationals from countries where commercial flights are unavailable. | The government has also pledged £75m to charter special flights to bring home UK nationals from countries where commercial flights are unavailable. |
| Aviation bosses have been lobbying the government for a targeted aid package to stop firms going under as a result of the slump in demand. | Aviation bosses have been lobbying the government for a targeted aid package to stop firms going under as a result of the slump in demand. |
| If a passenger's flight has been cancelled they are entitled to a full refund to the original form of payment within seven days under EU air passengers' rights rules. | If a passenger's flight has been cancelled they are entitled to a full refund to the original form of payment within seven days under EU air passengers' rights rules. |
| However, airlines including BA have removed the usual option where passengers can request their money back online. Airlines want customers to take vouchers instead. | However, airlines including BA have removed the usual option where passengers can request their money back online. Airlines want customers to take vouchers instead. |
| Some airlines are concerned about their future if they have to repay passengers and do not receive help from the state. | Some airlines are concerned about their future if they have to repay passengers and do not receive help from the state. |
| While they have been able to claim for staff wages under the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, they may still be paying finance costs for their planes. | While they have been able to claim for staff wages under the government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, they may still be paying finance costs for their planes. |
| Virgin Atlantic is expected to seek a bailout in the coming days. | Virgin Atlantic is expected to seek a bailout in the coming days. |
| On Tuesday, the Dubai government announced plans to inject fresh equity into Emirates to help the airline overcome the impact of coronavirus. | |
| The carrier suspended all passenger flights on 25 March for two weeks. | |
| Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said Emirates has "strategic importance to the Dubai and UAE economy", adding that he will provide more details on the cash infusion "at a later stage". | |
| In the US, American Airlines has said it will seek $12bn (£9.7bn) of financial support from its government because of the impact of coronavirus. | In the US, American Airlines has said it will seek $12bn (£9.7bn) of financial support from its government because of the impact of coronavirus. |
| It said it would mean "no involuntary furloughs or cuts in pay rates or benefits for the next six months". | It said it would mean "no involuntary furloughs or cuts in pay rates or benefits for the next six months". |
| The company returned $1.3bn to shareholders in dividends and buybacks last year, according to Bloomberg | The company returned $1.3bn to shareholders in dividends and buybacks last year, according to Bloomberg |