BA Gatwick operations temporarily suspended, effective 30 March
Mar 29, 2020, 10:18 am
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,146
Mar 30, 2020, 12:59 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Programs: IC Hotels Spire, BA Gold
Posts: 8,668
A large airport terminal such as LGW(N) might also make a good temporary hospital if things really get out of hand. Alot of infrastructure already there, good transport connections and next to a runway, the North terminal is less cluttered than the South and the check-in area and main airside departure area are generally large open spaces. SOU is being considered (much smaller scale of course) according to a good friend in the NHS in Hampshire
Mar 30, 2020, 1:21 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,146
Mar 30, 2020, 1:41 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Mar 30, 2020, 2:35 pm
#41
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 153
A large airport terminal such as LGW(N) might also make a good temporary hospital if things really get out of hand. Alot of infrastructure already there, good transport connections and next to a runway, the North terminal is less cluttered than the South and the check-in area and main airside departure area are generally large open spaces. SOU is being considered (much smaller scale of course) according to a good friend in the NHS in Hampshire
LGW and/or SOU is far more likely to be used as an excess death centres than a hospital.
Mar 30, 2020, 2:46 pm
#42
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
They'll open all 10,000 beds at excel, NEC and Manchester (plus number TBC in Cardiff and Glasgow) first. It's going to take at least 6 weeks to get them up and running then they'll go from there, but regional exhibition / conference centres are next to be used. Frankly once all the national centres then appropriate regional centres used, staffing would become a serious issue. They are already looking for 25,000 staff for 3 units already announced.
LGW and/or SOU is far more likely to be used as an excess death centres than a hospital.
LGW and/or SOU is far more likely to be used as an excess death centres than a hospital.
Sir Vallance already said that the rate of increase is lower than they expected and warmer weather is on its way soon.
Lockdown may have only been a week old but things were empty most of March so looks like we have successfully delayed the surge enough for the NHS to cope, although too soon to release lockdown measures just yet.
Mar 30, 2020, 2:57 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,200
There are plenty of places more suitable for use as either hospitals or mortuaries than airport terminal buildings.
A hangar would be used over a terminal building even if only for easy of access and then cleaning afterwards.
A hangar would be used over a terminal building even if only for easy of access and then cleaning afterwards.
Mar 30, 2020, 3:37 pm
#44
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 153
Will we get there?
Sir Vallance already said that the rate of increase is lower than they expected and warmer weather is on its way soon.
Lockdown may have only been a week old but things were empty most of March so looks like we have successfully delayed the surge enough for the NHS to cope, although too soon to release lockdown measures just yet.
Sir Vallance already said that the rate of increase is lower than they expected and warmer weather is on its way soon.
Lockdown may have only been a week old but things were empty most of March so looks like we have successfully delayed the surge enough for the NHS to cope, although too soon to release lockdown measures just yet.
Originally Posted by UKtravelbear
There are plenty of places more suitable for use as either hospitals or mortuaries than airport terminal buildings.
A hangar would be used over a terminal building even if only for easy of access and then cleaning afterwards.
A hangar would be used over a terminal building even if only for easy of access and then cleaning afterwards.
Mar 30, 2020, 5:09 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 1,851
BA is gone from Gatwick
Just in, via Alastair Dalton ("Transport Correspondent and columnist, The Scotsman/Scotland on Sunday")
Said to take effect from Wednesday.
British Airways has confirmed to me it is halting flights at Gatwick Airport: "Due to considerable restrictions & challenging market environment, like many other airlines, we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick"