Latest news with #Gatwick
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Why do some airlines often seem to be running late?
Q Are easyJet always late? I am recently back from a trip to Split in Croatia. I had an early-morning flight from Luton, returning to Gatwick in the late afternoon. Both were over an hour late. Is there a systemic problem with easyJet, or is there other stuff going on? Robin S A All the budget airlines are sharply focused on keeping to time. Their business model depends on using cabin crew and planes as intensively as possible – especially in summer, when demand is strongest. I shall take each of your journeys in turn. Luton airport has never been busier. The home team, easyJet, is up against Ryanair, Wizz Air and, from this summer, Jet2. The first wave of flights begins soon after 5am, with the Split flight typically at 6.20am. Yet Luton does not have the same sclerotic pace first thing in the morning as Gatwick – partly because there is less incoming traffic, and also because there is not the same critical mass of aircraft trying to get on their way as the Sussex airport sees. On a 6.35am Ryanair flight from Luton to Vilnius recently, the plane arrived 25 minutes early in the Lithuanian capital. I bet the delay stemmed from flow restrictions in airspace over Europe: the rate at which aircraft are cleared to fly through the complex skies. There are serious problems with staffing at a number of continental 'area control centres' – the operations that look after large swathes of sky. Between Luton and Split, the most direct route passes over France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy, with plenty of scope for congestion. Coming back, it may simply be that delays had built up during the day. Even though airlines try to put in a bit of a firebreak in early afternoon where they can make up for earlier hold-ups, that is not always possible. Looking at Thursday's hardworking flight programme, the same Airbus A320 went from Gatwick to Split twice, with less than an hour between each take-off and landing, picking up delays along the way. On occasions this summer, disruption will intensify as pressure on a rather creaky air-traffic control system intensifies. By the time we get to August, it may be that a delay of just an hour is seen as roughly on schedule. Q We have a young family and are hoping to spend a week or two away in Germany this summer, travelling from Manchester – ideally to the Black Forest, and near a lake. What can you recommend? Katherine S A Germany is by far the most underrated nation in Europe for family holidays, and the Black Forest is an ideal playground. It is also easy to reach from Manchester: easyJet flies five times a week in summer (the 'missing days' are Wednesday and Saturday) to Basel. This is officially the 'EuroAirport' serving Switzerland, France and Germany. FlixBus connects the airport with Freiburg, with buses every hour or two taking just 55 minutes. Freiburg is an excellent place to spend your first couple of days: smaller and calmer than many German cities, with an atmospheric old town dominated by the towering minster. The Vauban quarter, south of the centre, is worth exploring. During the postwar occupation of Germany, this was the site of a French army barracks. But, since 1993, it has transformed into a sustainable community full of good ideas. The Black Forest – a beautiful, relatively low mountain range draped in woodland – extends east and north from Freiburg. Public transport is excellent throughout the Black Forest, and a 40-minute train ride will take you to Titisee. I suggest spending a good few days here, not least because of the Badeparadies Schwarzwald – a charmingly retro water park. You can swim in the lake, or just walk around it, and rent bikes for wider exploration. You could simply retrace your steps to Basel airport, but I recommend you make the most of the opportunity to travel through the forest. Head north to the splendidly situated town of Triberg for mountain walks. Then continue by train to Baden Baden, perhaps the finest spa town in Europe – with good facilities for children, too. From here, you can take the train south to Basel, ideally spending a day in the Swiss city before flying home. Q After the airlines put their prices up following the Eurostar shambles, I wonder when the government will look at rip-off dynamic pricing in the transport sector? Name supplied A Never, I hope. For context, yesterday, air fares between London and Paris soared to over £600 one-way as passengers whose Eurostar trains were cancelled tried to find alternative means to reach the French capital. The 'total chaos' – as Eurostar described it on social media – happened as a result of two tragedies involving people being struck by trains on high-speed lines in France, and the overnight theft of cable near Lille Europe station. Yesterday I watched as the air fares rose and planes sold out for the short hop from London to Paris. I can understand the view that this is the unacceptable face of capitalism: exploiting misfortune to make extreme profits. Yet the airlines found themselves the custodians of what had suddenly become an extremely scarce resource: transport between the UK and French capitals. They could have kept the price down to the normal £300 or so for a last-minute ticket (which is also roughly the usual Eurostar Premier fare). Were they to have done so, those tickets would have been snapped up immediately for less than the market would bear. I contend that there needs to be a mechanism for ensuring that people who are desperate to travel are able to do so. Those precious assets are allocated by price. As I have mentioned before, I was on the wrong end of a Qatar Airways cancellation from Kathmandu last November. I needed to be back in the UK for family and professional reasons. With so many seats taken out of the market, it was almost impossible to fly from the Nepali capital. The only international flight with any seats available was with a budget airline to Bangkok. It cost over £700 for a three-hour hop – in the wrong direction. But I also knew that British Airways had plenty of seats from Bangkok back to Gatwick for £500. Luckily, I had a credit card that took the strain and I made it back in time. Money well spent – which I imagine is the view of those high-spending passengers on the last flight to Paris yesterday evening. Q My daughter is stuck in Doha on her way home from Bangkok. She doesn't seem to have the same rights over there, and I was wondering what Qatar Airways' obligations are? Stuart White A The inconsistency of UK (and EU) air passengers' rights legislation is glaringly apparent after the closure of Doha's airspace overnight on Monday, which wrecked the plans of tens of thousands of passengers. Those consumer protections work only for flights beginning in Europe, or on airlines based in the UK or EU. Not yet left Britain? Passengers booked from UK airports on Qatar Airways flights via Doha to Asia, Australasia or Africa must be flown to their destination as soon as possible by any carrier that has seats available. That would mean, for example, transferring passengers booked from London to Perth via Doha to the Qantas nonstop. They must also be provided with a hotel and meals until they can be flown out. Similar benefits apply to passengers who were stranded in Doha mid-journey from the UK. Someone flying from Edinburgh or Manchester who reached Doha before airspace closed can expect a hotel, meals, and an outbound flight on any airline, pronto. But passengers in your daughter's position have no such rights. She is flying home from a non-European location, Bangkok via Doha, on a non-European airline, Qatar Airways. Unless national or regional rules specify otherwise, the airline can do what it likes. The situation is made more complicated by a shortage of seats. Widespread cancellations are reverberating through the airline's schedules, as well as on Qatar Airways' partner, British Airways. When normality is restored, passengers booked on cancelled flights go to the back of the queue, scrabbling for seats with thousands of others. Last November, Qatar Airways cancelled my flight from Kathmandu via Doha to London and offered an alternative a week later, with no hotel accommodation. On that occasion, I took a refund and spent a further £1,300 on a flight home – ironically via Bangkok. Your daughter may wish to do something similar. Travel insurance may help with some out-of-pocket expenses and a modest payment for long delays, but it is no substitute for proper passengers' rights. I hope your daughter makes it home soon without too much additional stress and expense.
Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Telegraph
British six-year-old detained ‘for smuggling drugs into Mauritius'
A six-year-old British boy was detained in Mauritius after customs officials found 14 kilograms of cannabis hidden inside his suitcase. The child was stopped at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport alongside seven other people as they disembarked from a British Airways flight from Gatwick on Sunday, local media reported. The group was reportedly carrying more than 161 kilograms (355 pounds) of cannabis hidden in their luggage, with the stash valued at £1.6 million. Seven of the suspects were British, including the boy whose luggage reportedly contained 24 packages of drugs wrapped in clear cellophane. The eighth suspect was reported to be a Romanian living in Britain. Mauritian authorities described the use of the child's luggage to transport the drugs as 'outrageous and inhumane', adding 'this is one of the most revolting cases we have encountered in recent years'. Flown back to UK The boy, who was unaware of the contents of his bag, was reportedly flown back to the UK on Wednesday and is staying with his father. The suspects each carried Apple AirTags, which can be fixed to an item to track its location via an app, and up to £900 in cash. Apple trackers are thought to be used by international drug trafficking gangs to help smugglers keep tabs on their shipments. The authorities are reportedly treating the group as part of an organised crime network responsible for smuggling drugs from Europe to Mauritius. Le Mauricien, a local media outlet, reported that seven suspects were charged with drug trafficking and placed in custody. The adult suspects appeared at Mahebourg court on the island's south-eastern coast on Monday, with all remaining in pre-trial detention. Raids on hotels Authorities then carried out a series of targeted raids on hotels containing British nationals after police received a lead that more foreign passengers may have been transporting drugs, local media said. No further suspects were arrested at any of the three locations searched. A Foreign Office spokesman told The Sun newspaper: 'We are supporting several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.'
Daily Record
15 hours ago
- Daily Record
Ayrshire Ryanair pilot retires in style after final flight at Prestwick
Airline pilot, Duncan Munro, aged 60, retired this week from the captain's chair after decades of faithful service to Ryanair. A high flyer who safely delivered countless numbers of air passengers to sun-kissed destinations in Spain and elsewhere has hung up his captain's hat. Airline pilot, Duncan Munro, aged 60, retired this week from the captain's chair after decades of faithful service to Ryanair. Duncan, from Alloway, has flown in and out of Prestwick Airport for more than 20 years, his most regular route being the run to Malaga and back. But on Thursday, June 26, he took charge of his final Boeing 737 flight back from Spain, as he prepares to settle into a more 'grounded' lifestyle. And Duncan got the perfect welcome back as he touched down on the Prestwick tarmac - a water canon salute from his ground colleagues. Proud dad Harry said: 'Duncan's last day at work was Thursday, June 26 and he landed from Malaga early afternoon. 'On June 20, 2001, the Ayrshire Post actually published an article about my son who had just been engaged as a pilot for Ryanair, operating from Prestwick Airport. 'He is now about to retire and his last flight was 26 June, landing at Prestwick. 'Duncan rose through the ranks of Ryanair to captain, training captain and base commander at both Glasgow and Edinburgh. He also had a spell with Norwegian Air flying transatlantic. 'He was also a simulator instructor at Gatwick. In addition, he maintains his RAF connection in Glasgow.' Former Belmont Academy pupil Duncan took his first steps on his fascinating career journey when he studied General Science at Strathclyde University in 1982. Duncan then joined the RAF, rising to officer in the RAF Regiment and taking his Masters Degree at Glasgow University. A career in computing then followed, which led him to London and Singapore - before he gained his commercial pilot's licence. Duncan eventually progressed to captain one of the Ryanair fleet - and he's been loving his job ever since. And in a pleasant surprise to Duncan, wife Jane and son Fergus, flew out to Malaga on Wednesday - so they could enjoy his last flight home from Spain the following day. Fergus said: 'It all went really well. I gave him a call before we got on the flight home and asked him if he'd welcome us on as VIP's! 'It was definitely an emotional day and I think it only hit him when we landed and he was carrying out his final shutdown. Then he realised it was all over.' Duncan's life in aviation isn't quite over however; he's going to be the Deputy Chief Flying Instructor at Acron, based at Gatwick, where he'll put the next generation of airline pilots through their paces in their state-of-the-art flight simulators. Duncan's career timeline * Hired by Ryanair in 2001, initially based at Prestwick * Promoted to Captain in 2002 and based in Stansted, then moved to be based back at Prestwick after 6 months * Logged approximately 14,000 hours as Captain and 3,200 hours as First Officer (about 18,000 in total from start of career to the end) * Flew over 10,000 sectors * Became a Line Training Captain in summer 2004 * Qualified as a Type Rating Instructor in 2006 * Flew Air Experience Flights with Air Cadets from 2007 to 2022 as part of an Air Squadron * Appointed Base Captain at Edinburgh in November 2008 * Became Base Captain at Glasgow in December 2014 * Flew transatlantic routes for Norwegian in August 2017 * Returned to Ryanair as a line pilot in Edinburgh in February 2019 * Will become Deputy Chief Flying Instructor at L3Harris (Acron) in August 2025 * Intends to complete A320 and A330 type ratings * Retired after his final flight from Málaga to Prestwick, which was marked with a water cannon salute.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mace completes London Gatwick Pier 6 extension foundation works
Mace has concluded the Pier 6 extension foundation works at London Gatwick, representing a milestone in the £140m ($192m) infrastructure programme. Mace collaborated with specialist contractor Bachy Soletanche and consulting engineer WSP on this project. Over a period of two months, Bachy Soletanche installed more than 200 continuous flight auger piles using a Liebherr LB24 rig across three distinct piling platform levels. The company's in-house design team was responsible for the geotechnical solution, which introduced value-engineered enhancements to reduce material usage and lower the project's embodied carbon. Sustainability was a central focus throughout the project, with the team surpassing low-carbon concrete targets by selecting a 'CIII/B' mix, resulting in carbon dioxide equivalent savings of approximately 40 tonnes. Additional carbon reductions were stated to be achieved by minimising crane usage, which saved around 1,500 litres of fuel, and by sourcing materials from local and airside-approved suppliers. The project's location within a live airside environment necessitated logistical planning and coordination with multiple stakeholders. Bachy Soletanche is said to have adhered to strict operational and safety protocols, including crane height restrictions, airside permits and risk assessments. To further enhance efficiency and safety, methods such as replacing hot works with hydraulic rebar cutters were implemented. Mace was appointed for the Pier 6 extension in March 2025. Expected to complete in 2027, the extension will feature eight new aircraft gates and enable 7.5 million passengers annually to board and disembark directly from aircraft. This upgrade is expected to minimise reliance on remote stands, while eliminating more than 12,000 bus journeys a year. Mace Construct project director John Newman said: 'This complex pier extension will add much-needed capacity to London Gatwick whilst minimising the environmental impact. "Through working closely with the client team and with our experienced supply chain, we have successfully delivered these foundation works in a live environment, on a very constrained site using the latest sustainable techniques.' "Mace completes London Gatwick Pier 6 extension foundation works" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Times
Climate change shows its stripes on hottest day of the year
Saturday was the UK's hottest day of the year so far with a high of 33.2C at Charlwood near Gatwick. The night before was Northern Ireland's hottest June night on record: 18.2C at Aldergrove. A fierce heatwave has also been felt over much of western Europe, reaching nearly 40C in central France and 42C in Spain. The UK is becoming accustomed to high temperatures. The number of days of 30C or more is growing and they are becoming more widespread across the country. Despite big fluctuations in weather over the years, the trend is clear: the climate of Britain is growing warmer. To take one example, over the period from 1961 to 1990, only London and Hampshire recorded six or more days a year over 28C. In the decade from 2014 to 2023, that temperature was recorded across much of England and Wales, and for more than 12 days a year in several counties in the southeast. By coincidence, Saturday was also 'show your stripes day', which raises awareness of climate change using striking graphics that show how temperatures have been gradually rising around the world. The stripes are easy to understand because they have no numbers, no words, just colour. Each coloured stripe represents the average temperature for a single year — blue for cooler years, red for warmer years — and vividly illustrates how our climate has been warming over nearly two centuries. Ed Hawkins, a scientist at the University of Reading, came up with the idea. 'The climate stripes began in 2018, born out of a desire to visualise global warming that anyone could understand,' Hawkins explained. The pace of the warming has been accelerating in recent times, turning the stripes increasingly deep shades of red. 'Of course, the stripes only show the past, but they offer a stark warning for our future', said Hawkins. 'We can act now to limit warming or we can watch the colours darken and the impacts worsen.'
