With news of a tragedy involving a disabled passenger who had just arrived in Gatwick, the airport announced plans to limit operations in July and August.
The announcement to restrict departures and arrivals was planned ahead of Wednesday’s incident at the airport’s North Terminal, which involved a passenger arriving on an easyJet flight.
The unnamed man was one of three “passengers with reduced mobility” (PRM) on the plane who needed special help. The plane was greeted by a staff member of air logistics provider Wilson James.
Reports indicate that the passenger decided to make his way from the plane to the terminal, where he fell from an escalator and received fatal injuries.
Of course, easyJet cabin crew members who witnessed the incident tried to help, but were unable to save him.
A spokesman for Gatwick Airport said: “This is a sad and tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the family of the deceased.
“A member of Wilson’s staff, James, was waiting for the plane to arrive and was in the process of disembarking the three PRM passengers when the incident occurred.
“Staff shortages are not a factor in this incident, as claimed. It is normal for an employee to take down three passengers who need help by taking them one by one the short distance to the waiting buggy.
“A formal investigation is currently underway and it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
At least 50 easyJet departures and arrivals were stopped in Gatwick on Thursday, along with additional flights from British Airways and Wizz Air. Approximately 10,000 passengers did not travel according to the reservation.
Stuart Dempster, who hoped to fly from Lisbon to Gatwick, tweeted: “@easyJet cancels our short-haul flight from Lisbon to London, with the usual chaotic” help “to support passengers. We booked again with @tapairportugal tomorrow, hoping to get home. I will never fly with easyJet again! ”
Now, two weeks before the July-August peak season, Gatwick Airport chiefs have asked airlines to cut their proposed schedules in the hope that “passengers will receive a more reliable and better standard of service”.
The plan is to make cuts now, instead of further worrying about canceling the day.
On the busiest days, airlines will be told to cancel up to 50 flights – which requires thousands of passengers already booked for them to find alternative departures.
A statement from the airport said: “After a significant and rapid increase in traffic, Gatwick Airport is working with airlines to implement delivery schedules to help prevent short notice and cancellation at the last minute.
“Groundhandling companies of airlines with insufficient resources will cause poor service this summer and delays, unless urgent action is taken.
The airport has agreed with airlines to reduce planned operations from a maximum of 900 departures and arrivals to 825 in July and 850 in August.
Airport Coordination Ltd, the body that determines the “slots” for take-off and landing in Gatwick and other centers, will determine the number of cancellations that each airline must make.
EasyJet passengers will bear the brunt of canceled flights, with British Airways, Wizz Air, Tui, Norwegian and Ryanair also expected to cancel departures.
Under European rules on the rights of air passengers, any passenger whose flight is canceled may insist on being booked again on the same day if there is a free seat, even if the airline justifying the initial departure requires a ticket to be paid. competing airline.
Airport Chief Executive Officer Stuart Wingate said: “Gatwick is well prepared to restart international travel by successfully reopening our southern terminal.
“We are also working closely with our airlines to avoid disrupting passengers this summer, and while more newly recruited staff will start working in the coming weeks, we know it will be a busy summer.
“It is clear, however, that during the anniversary week a number of companies operating at the airport found it difficult, especially due to staff shortages.
“By taking decisive action now, we are working to help ground staff – as well as our airlines – better combine their flight programs with their available resources.
“As has already been the case, most flights will be operated normally during the summer, and the steps taken today mean that our passengers can expect a more reliable and better standard of service, while improving staffing conditions.” working at an airport. ”
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