Dec 20, 18, 5:24 am
Last edit by: Canarsie
Travelling to of from London Gatwick 21 December 2018
All LGW services operated on Friday with 2 exceptions (BA2758/0 to AMS and back; BA2938/9 EDI and back). Many flights were heavily delayed.
List of inbound BA diversions from latest closure is in post 463
Incomplete list of inbound cancellations for Friday 21 December is here in post 298.
Current customer guidelines in this post 344 (you can rebook free of charge to 5 January and reroute via LHR/LCY). Try rebooking via the App if you can, otherwise you need to telephone BA.
Background
Gatwick Airport was closed at 21:03 on Wednesday 19 December following reports of drones flying over the airfield. Sightings have continued throughout Thursday 20 December requiring the airport to remain closed. Gatwick Airport advising all passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. Gatwick airport was further closed on Friday 21 December from 17:00 until 18:25 at which time normal operations resumed after suspected drone sightings.
Previous updates
Current list of cancelled and diverted services
Post 96 and Post 132 and Post 184
All LGW services operated on Friday with 2 exceptions (BA2758/0 to AMS and back; BA2938/9 EDI and back). Many flights were heavily delayed.
List of inbound BA diversions from latest closure is in post 463
Incomplete list of inbound cancellations for Friday 21 December is here in post 298.
Current customer guidelines in this post 344 (you can rebook free of charge to 5 January and reroute via LHR/LCY). Try rebooking via the App if you can, otherwise you need to telephone BA.
Background
Gatwick Airport was closed at 21:03 on Wednesday 19 December following reports of drones flying over the airfield. Sightings have continued throughout Thursday 20 December requiring the airport to remain closed. Gatwick Airport advising all passengers to check the status of their flights before travelling to the airport. Gatwick airport was further closed on Friday 21 December from 17:00 until 18:25 at which time normal operations resumed after suspected drone sightings.
Previous updates
Current list of cancelled and diverted services
Post 96 and Post 132 and Post 184
LGW closed due to drone activity
Dec 20, 18, 4:17 am
#106
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 61,080
however now my new flight says we only have 1 bag baggage allowance when as Gold I would have thought we have 2 bags each. My LGW flight showed 2 bags allowed per person (OH is blue).
I plan to just handle this at airport as I guess it is just a reissue issue... any thoughts?
I plan to just handle this at airport as I guess it is just a reissue issue... any thoughts?
Dec 20, 18, 4:19 am
#107
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Sussex, UK
Programs: BA:Gold Amex:Green :IC Platinum Elite Amb
Posts: 660
Not the first time runway closures have happened there Gatwick closed briefly 2nd July 2017
Given the apparent loiter time it does point to an organised attack using GNSS based flight direction so possibly no controller just a launch and leave approach giving minimum risk to those behind this event. Plenty of places around the vicinity of the airport to position multiple UAV's for delayed launch so the police will be having a heck of a time and I guess in the new year there will be some new equipment (probably directed energy such as laser) appearing close to runways in an attempt to prevent a repeat.
Given the apparent loiter time it does point to an organised attack using GNSS based flight direction so possibly no controller just a launch and leave approach giving minimum risk to those behind this event. Plenty of places around the vicinity of the airport to position multiple UAV's for delayed launch so the police will be having a heck of a time and I guess in the new year there will be some new equipment (probably directed energy such as laser) appearing close to runways in an attempt to prevent a repeat.
Dec 20, 18, 4:23 am
#108
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 61,080
Customer Guidelines update 3 (this number is important)
These have been revised, so LGW departures, shorthaul and longhaul, departing today, can now be rebooked up to and including 4 January - if your flight is currently operating. If your flight is cancelled you get a broader set of options plus the right to a refund as an alternative.
These have been revised, so LGW departures, shorthaul and longhaul, departing today, can now be rebooked up to and including 4 January - if your flight is currently operating. If your flight is cancelled you get a broader set of options plus the right to a refund as an alternative.
Dec 20, 18, 4:27 am
#110
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, Hertz pres circle, Marriott Platinum, hilton diamond
Posts: 2,535
I'm on an LGW-JER flight tomorrow, so watching this closely, just wondering how likely it is that there'll still be a backlog tomorrow evening, even if they manage to get this under control. Friends flying today on easy jet to barcelona have been moved to bristol airport tomorrow.
I'm curious if BA will just keep cancelling flights particularly just to locations that are only served by LGW, or will they actually shift some to LHR or other airports?
Really can't see how the application of helicopter + shotgun couldnt have this sorted fairly quickly. I also know some guys that love drone racing, could probably pay them a couple of quid and have them just crash the other ones out of the sky, so I suspect there's a wider plan here of not just knocking them out but keeping them doing it long enough to track down the culprits.
I'm curious if BA will just keep cancelling flights particularly just to locations that are only served by LGW, or will they actually shift some to LHR or other airports?
Really can't see how the application of helicopter + shotgun couldnt have this sorted fairly quickly. I also know some guys that love drone racing, could probably pay them a couple of quid and have them just crash the other ones out of the sky, so I suspect there's a wider plan here of not just knocking them out but keeping them doing it long enough to track down the culprits.
Dec 20, 18, 4:30 am
#112
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: M&M, BA Silver, Accor LeClub Gold
Posts: 490
Dec 20, 18, 4:31 am
#113
Join Date: Oct 2005
Programs: PC RA, Hertz PC, (Flybe) Premier card, Tesco Platinum
Posts: 1,329
fixed wjng aircraft are not as manoeuvrable and have a minimum airspeed to stay aloft. I’d imagine a rotor wouldn’t have as high an airspeed and hence impact energies would be much lower, plus avoidance much easier.
Dec 20, 18, 4:32 am
#114
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London
Programs: BAEC blue dust
Posts: 245
Dec 20, 18, 4:34 am
#117
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,192
Really can't see how the application of helicopter + shotgun couldnt have this sorted fairly quickly. I also know some guys that love drone racing, could probably pay them a couple of quid and have them just crash the other ones out of the sky, so I suspect there's a wider plan here of not just knocking them out but keeping them doing it long enough to track down the culprits.
You're right, though. It would be pretty easy to smash a few other drones into them.
Is no-one else starting to think this might be something a bit more sinister?
Dec 20, 18, 4:36 am
#118
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 314
SEN runway 05/23 is 1,856 meters long, so it is bit short for many airplane types, especially those used on long haul routes, which are the most likely to be diverted. Also it might be easier to divert to an airport where the airline already has some activity as then it doesn't require too much hassle to arrange ground handling etc.
Dec 20, 18, 4:38 am
#119
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life
Posts: 4,420
Let's not start using the T word.
