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| Gatwick Airport power problems leave thousands stranded | Gatwick Airport power problems leave thousands stranded |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Several thousand passengers have been stranded at Gatwick Airport following stormy weather. | Several thousand passengers have been stranded at Gatwick Airport following stormy weather. |
| The airport has suffered power problems at its north terminal, affecting its ability to check people in manually. | The airport has suffered power problems at its north terminal, affecting its ability to check people in manually. |
| Gatwick said all departures were leaving from the south terminal, apart from British Airways. Arrivals were still coming in to both terminals. | Gatwick said all departures were leaving from the south terminal, apart from British Airways. Arrivals were still coming in to both terminals. |
| The airport said electricity sub-stations on the airfield had flooded with water from the River Mole. | The airport said electricity sub-stations on the airfield had flooded with water from the River Mole. |
| BBC Newsbeat reporter Declan Harvey, who has spent 11 hours awaiting a flight to Belfast, said: "Police are manning the information desks. Staff have gone 'awol' as police do what they can to give out information. | |
| "It's all getting very tired, cranky and angry. There haven't been huge flashpoints but people are frustrated. They have been here 11 or 12 hours and are only now finding out their flights are cancelled." | "It's all getting very tired, cranky and angry. There haven't been huge flashpoints but people are frustrated. They have been here 11 or 12 hours and are only now finding out their flights are cancelled." |
| He said people had not been given information about their flights or where they should go to. | He said people had not been given information about their flights or where they should go to. |
| "There are children crying and women crying. Earlier a list was read out of flights that had been cancelled and people were bursting into tears." | "There are children crying and women crying. Earlier a list was read out of flights that had been cancelled and people were bursting into tears." |
| 'Pretty poor show' | 'Pretty poor show' |
| He added: "There is now a massive queue of people trying to leave the airport because trains are cancelled. No-one knows anything about how they are going to get home." | He added: "There is now a massive queue of people trying to leave the airport because trains are cancelled. No-one knows anything about how they are going to get home." |
| At 16:00 GMT, Gatwick had 133 flights due to leave the north terminal with an average delay of 90 minutes, and of those, 86 had departed and 26 had been cancelled. | At 16:00 GMT, Gatwick had 133 flights due to leave the north terminal with an average delay of 90 minutes, and of those, 86 had departed and 26 had been cancelled. |
| In a further update at 18:20 GMT, the airport said 30 flights were due to arrive and 30 due to depart across both terminals. | In a further update at 18:20 GMT, the airport said 30 flights were due to arrive and 30 due to depart across both terminals. |
| No trains have run to or from the airport for most of the day because of fallen trees on the line and disruption across the network. | No trains have run to or from the airport for most of the day because of fallen trees on the line and disruption across the network. |
| Southern said Gatwick Express services were suspended because of a landslip between East Croydon and the airport, with replacement buses were operating between London Victoria and Gatwick. | Southern said Gatwick Express services were suspended because of a landslip between East Croydon and the airport, with replacement buses were operating between London Victoria and Gatwick. |
| Southeastern was also running limited rail services. | Southeastern was also running limited rail services. |
| An airport spokesman denied police were manning information desks instead of staff. | An airport spokesman denied police were manning information desks instead of staff. |
| He said officers had worked alongside Gatwick staff all day and were there to calm people down in a difficult situation. | He said officers had worked alongside Gatwick staff all day and were there to calm people down in a difficult situation. |
| "We remain incredibly apologetic and are desperately trying to put things right but it will take the time it takes in terms of getting it right," he added. | "We remain incredibly apologetic and are desperately trying to put things right but it will take the time it takes in terms of getting it right," he added. |
| The main point of contact for passengers was their airline and airlines would make choices on what flights to run and not necessarily the airport, he said. | The main point of contact for passengers was their airline and airlines would make choices on what flights to run and not necessarily the airport, he said. |
| Earlier, Gatwick said it had extra staff helping in the terminals. | Earlier, Gatwick said it had extra staff helping in the terminals. |
| Easyjet said it had cancelled 38 flights and a number of others have been delayed. | Easyjet said it had cancelled 38 flights and a number of others have been delayed. |
| Travel journalist Simon Calder said he estimated about 10,000 people in total would not get to their destination and would end up spending Christmas in various parts of Europe as a result of the disruption. | Travel journalist Simon Calder said he estimated about 10,000 people in total would not get to their destination and would end up spending Christmas in various parts of Europe as a result of the disruption. |
| Transport minister Baroness Kramer told Prime Minister David Cameron air passengers at Gatwick and those trying to get there, had shown common sense and good humour in miserable circumstances. | Transport minister Baroness Kramer told Prime Minister David Cameron air passengers at Gatwick and those trying to get there, had shown common sense and good humour in miserable circumstances. |
| However, she added safety had to be the priority on Gatwick train services, which could not run unless lines were clear. | However, she added safety had to be the priority on Gatwick train services, which could not run unless lines were clear. |
| The government would look afterwards to see if there were things that could have been handled better, she explained. | The government would look afterwards to see if there were things that could have been handled better, she explained. |
| Passenger Rachel Rouse, who arrived at the airport hoping to fly to Tenerife for Christmas, said: "All the screens went down, which obviously wasn't their fault because of the electricity, but when the screens did go back up the only things that were on it was a message saying, 'Merry Christmas'." | Passenger Rachel Rouse, who arrived at the airport hoping to fly to Tenerife for Christmas, said: "All the screens went down, which obviously wasn't their fault because of the electricity, but when the screens did go back up the only things that were on it was a message saying, 'Merry Christmas'." |
| Peter Lambert, another passenger who emailed the BBC, said: "As usual there is a complete lack of communication. | Peter Lambert, another passenger who emailed the BBC, said: "As usual there is a complete lack of communication. |
| "The staff have to shout instructions, the PA only works for pre-recorded announcements of no use at all. They could do with investing in some loud hailers. | "The staff have to shout instructions, the PA only works for pre-recorded announcements of no use at all. They could do with investing in some loud hailers. |
| "Easyjet are doing their best by moving people flight by flight to the south terminal. All in all a pretty poor show from Gatwick Ltd." | "Easyjet are doing their best by moving people flight by flight to the south terminal. All in all a pretty poor show from Gatwick Ltd." |
| A number of flights were diverted from the airport to Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday evening. | A number of flights were diverted from the airport to Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle on Monday evening. |