Travel correspondent Simon Calder has issued a warning to anyone travelling from the UK this week after fuel shortages at Gatwick Airport disrupted many travel plans. GB News interrupted its regular programming for the update on Tuesday morning.
Calder's warning
Calder told viewers: "My goodness me, the world's busiest single runway airport isn't having much luck. Last Sunday they ran out of water, so very few of the loos were working and all the bases had to shut down. Yesterday, they looked as though they were going to have an issue with fuel."
He said aviation workers are being asked to "fill up their tanks before they get here" as Gatwick is "running a bit short".
Fuel shortage notice
On Monday, a notice sent to flight crews warned: "For the attention of all crews: Gatwick has a shortage of fuel for the next two days. Please uplift max possible fuel at outstations."
A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport said: "Following a technical issue impacting fuel supply to the airport, airlines have been advised to monitor fuel availability. We are working closely with external suppliers to resolve the issue as quickly as possible and minimise any potential disruption. All airlines are operating as normal."
Flight cancellation risks
According to new analysis of flight data by AirAdvisor, flights between London's key hubs and Majorca and Ibiza are most likely to be cancelled this summer. So far this summer, 36 of 1050 flights departing from Gatwick and Heathrow airports heading to Majorca have been cancelled, around 3.44 per cent.
Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, said: "Cancellation risk on UK routes to Europe is not spread evenly, and this summer the Balearics are carrying a bigger share of the risk than anywhere else. That's worth understanding before you travel, because a cancellation is not just a long wait at the gate. You lose your slot. Same-day options dry up quickly. And from that point on, the airline decides what happens next, not you. Under UK261, if you're told your flight is cancelled less than 14 days before departure, you may be entitled to between £220 and £520 in compensation, depending on how far you were flying."
