Why would a Gibraltar bound flight divert to Malaga?
May 25, 2024, 3:20 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
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Why would a Gibraltar bound flight divert to Malaga?
We were visiting gibraltar today and were lucky enough to see a couple of takeoffs and landings from the top of the rock and from by the runway.
This afternoon I pulled up FR24 and saw BA490 which was diverted to Malaga. At the time I saw it, the plane was flying over northern Spain just approaching Madrid. Im guessing it wasnt a medical emergency or mechanical issue because Madrid would have been a way closer destination.
The plane landed in Malaga and continued on to Gibraltar after that. G-EUUI was the plane.
Does anybody know what happened or the cause for the diversion and why Malaga?
This afternoon I pulled up FR24 and saw BA490 which was diverted to Malaga. At the time I saw it, the plane was flying over northern Spain just approaching Madrid. Im guessing it wasnt a medical emergency or mechanical issue because Madrid would have been a way closer destination.
The plane landed in Malaga and continued on to Gibraltar after that. G-EUUI was the plane.
Does anybody know what happened or the cause for the diversion and why Malaga?
May 25, 2024, 3:37 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: Gold at BA, Hilton and Radisson.
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On a few flights I have seen people without automatic entry to Spain being offloaded at Heathrow as the likelihood of diversion is high. Regularly these are crew members of cruise ships docking in Gibraltar that afternoon.
*There was a point last year wherein I experienced a diversion whilst sat in the lounge. The U2 flight earlier had also diverted last minute, and thus I believe there were ~180 seats available from the coach company which both U2 and BA use. Offers were made to stay a night, on the airlines expense, so again you will be looked after!
May 25, 2024, 4:03 pm
#4
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Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
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Not an uncommon occurence. See these threads for more discussion:
My first experience of GIB, with BA
Gibraltar closed?
Gibraltar Diversion - Still Malaga?
Another BAFT mini-do. Gibraltar, Saturday 23 March 2019
My first experience of GIB, with BA
Gibraltar closed?
Gibraltar Diversion - Still Malaga?
Another BAFT mini-do. Gibraltar, Saturday 23 March 2019
May 25, 2024, 4:19 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: London Stratford, E7
Programs: BAEC Gold! Thanks to FT
Posts: 3,486
Strong winds most likely, or, which has happened once, a suddenly closed tower. It is an RAF airport I believe, accepting commercial flights. Gibraltar is a notoriously difficult airport to land in and of my 16 flights there this year, 1 has diverted. Rest assured if you fly the route again, and a diversion occurs, it is a well oiled operation with coaches waiting at both ends ready to ferry people back and forth. A friend ended up in Seville recently and again was in Gibraltar only a few hours late.
On a few flights I have seen people without automatic entry to Spain being offloaded at Heathrow as the likelihood of diversion is high. Regularly these are crew members of cruise ships docking in Gibraltar that afternoon.
*There was a point last year wherein I experienced a diversion whilst sat in the lounge. The U2 flight earlier had also diverted last minute, and thus I believe there were ~180 seats available from the coach company which both U2 and BA use. Offers were made to stay a night, on the airlines expense, so again you will be looked after!
On a few flights I have seen people without automatic entry to Spain being offloaded at Heathrow as the likelihood of diversion is high. Regularly these are crew members of cruise ships docking in Gibraltar that afternoon.
*There was a point last year wherein I experienced a diversion whilst sat in the lounge. The U2 flight earlier had also diverted last minute, and thus I believe there were ~180 seats available from the coach company which both U2 and BA use. Offers were made to stay a night, on the airlines expense, so again you will be looked after!
I wouldnt say its well oiled, on the FT do our flight was diverted to Malaga due to strong winds. They kept people onboard the aircraft that couldnt enter Spain but could enter Gibraltar.. dont know what happens to them. We were told which belt our bags would be on and there were no ground staff for further instructions. On calling THe GGL they couldnt get in touch with Malaga airport operations and it was other tour operators in the meet and greet area pointed us to a lady with a piece of paper held up with
BA490 on not in biro. The only good thing was they had enough coaches and bottled water,
During the pandemic when you could travel to Gibraltar but would need to self quarantine for 14 days if you had been to Spain they said at the gate theres a strong chance of diversion to Malaga and you can be offloaded if you dont want to self isolate on your return to the UK. The flight didnt divert. I imagine things are a bit slicker for GIB departures but when easyJet diverts they dont coach people and cancel the return segments.
May 25, 2024, 4:33 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: London
Programs: Gold at BA, Hilton and Radisson.
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There were two people I know of not keen on Spain, 1F and the chap beside me. He flew back with BA from AGP, free of charge. Didn't get the tier points, mind!
During the pandemic when you could travel to Gibraltar but would need to self quarantine for 14 days if you had been to Spain they said at the gate there’s a strong chance of diversion to Malaga and you can be offloaded if you don’t want to self isolate on your return to the UK. The flight didn’t divert. I imagine things are a bit slicker for GIB departures but when easyJet diverts they don’t coach people and cancel the return segments.