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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/31/ba-suspends-gatwick-flights-coronavirus-british-airways-easyjet
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| BA suspends all Gatwick flights due to coronavirus | BA suspends all Gatwick flights due to coronavirus |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British Airways move follows easyJet’s decision to ground all aircraft for at least two months | British Airways move follows easyJet’s decision to ground all aircraft for at least two months |
| British Airways is suspending all remaining flights to and from Gatwick, ending the last scheduled flights by UK carriers from the airport during the coronavirus pandemic. | |
| The national carrier’s move comes a day after easyJet grounded its entire fleet of aircraft for at least two months. Demand for travel has collapsed in recent weeks as many countries are in partial or full lockdown, forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights. | The national carrier’s move comes a day after easyJet grounded its entire fleet of aircraft for at least two months. Demand for travel has collapsed in recent weeks as many countries are in partial or full lockdown, forcing airlines to cancel thousands of flights. |
| Gatwick is closing one of its two terminals from Wednesday and will only operate any remaining flights between 2pm and 10pm to cut costs to a minimum during the crisis. | |
| The majority of Gatwick’s 2,500 employees will be furloughed in the coming days, with some having already taken voluntary redundancy.. Around 200 contractors have been laid off. | |
| A few foreign carriers, including Gulf airlines Qatar, are continuing to operate some flights, but otherwise only a few, unscheduled repatriation services are expected to pass through the airport in the coming weeks. | |
| BA, which is still running flights to and from Heathrow, said it would contact customers to discuss their options. | BA, which is still running flights to and from Heathrow, said it would contact customers to discuss their options. |
| The consumer association Which? said that BA must offer refunds. Struggling airlines have been giving passengers vouchers or rebooking them for another date, but are legally obliged to pay out for cancellations.` | The consumer association Which? said that BA must offer refunds. Struggling airlines have been giving passengers vouchers or rebooking them for another date, but are legally obliged to pay out for cancellations.` |
| A BA spokesman said: “Due to the considerable restrictions and challenging market environment, like many other airlines we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick.” | A BA spokesman said: “Due to the considerable restrictions and challenging market environment, like many other airlines we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick.” |
| The airline will carry out essential work at Gatwick, including maintenance, to be ready to start up again once travel restrictions are relaxed. | The airline will carry out essential work at Gatwick, including maintenance, to be ready to start up again once travel restrictions are relaxed. |
| The pandemic has pushed the global airline industry into crisis, with strict restrictions across most of the main air travel markets. Many airlines’ revenues have been all but wiped out and they are fighting for survival. Thousands of staff are being laid off but the UK government has insisted that it would not offer an industry-wide bailout. | The pandemic has pushed the global airline industry into crisis, with strict restrictions across most of the main air travel markets. Many airlines’ revenues have been all but wiped out and they are fighting for survival. Thousands of staff are being laid off but the UK government has insisted that it would not offer an industry-wide bailout. |
| The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has hinted that the government would consider support on a case-by-case basis. | The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has hinted that the government would consider support on a case-by-case basis. |
| The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told the BBC on Tuesday: “We do want there to be competition in the airline market when we come out of this crisis. We are also firmly aware that airlines have shareholders … It can’t be right that in good times the shareholders benefit and in bad times the taxpayer pays. | The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told the BBC on Tuesday: “We do want there to be competition in the airline market when we come out of this crisis. We are also firmly aware that airlines have shareholders … It can’t be right that in good times the shareholders benefit and in bad times the taxpayer pays. |
| He added: “We’re into now detailed discussion with airlines, airports, the ancillary services as well … It’s a question of finding the right solutions from that wide range the chancellor has announced … and then anything we can do to assist.” | He added: “We’re into now detailed discussion with airlines, airports, the ancillary services as well … It’s a question of finding the right solutions from that wide range the chancellor has announced … and then anything we can do to assist.” |
| Virgin Atlantic, one of the first airlines to seek assistance, is among four carriers whose planes will be chartered by the government for a £75m repatriation operation for Britons stranded abroad. | Virgin Atlantic, one of the first airlines to seek assistance, is among four carriers whose planes will be chartered by the government for a £75m repatriation operation for Britons stranded abroad. |
| Thousands of airline staff have been temporarily laid off or are taking unpaid leave. Easyjet and Virgin are setting up schemes for thousands of furloughed crew to volunteer over the next two months with the NHS or work in supermarkets. | Thousands of airline staff have been temporarily laid off or are taking unpaid leave. Easyjet and Virgin are setting up schemes for thousands of furloughed crew to volunteer over the next two months with the NHS or work in supermarkets. |
| On Monday, Loganair, the Scottish regional carrier, said it would be seeking government assistance beyond that offered to all British companies via the chancellor’s package of government-backed loans worth £330bn. | On Monday, Loganair, the Scottish regional carrier, said it would be seeking government assistance beyond that offered to all British companies via the chancellor’s package of government-backed loans worth £330bn. |
| BA’s owner, International Airlines Group, on Monday said it had extended a $1.38bn (£1.09bn) credit buffer by a year to June 2021. This means it has access to €9.3bn in cash, cash equivalents and loans, which it can use to get through the crisis. | BA’s owner, International Airlines Group, on Monday said it had extended a $1.38bn (£1.09bn) credit buffer by a year to June 2021. This means it has access to €9.3bn in cash, cash equivalents and loans, which it can use to get through the crisis. |