Travel expert Simon Calder has issued a caution to anyone jetting off on holiday from the UK this week, as fuel shortages at Gatwick Airport threaten to disrupt travel plans.
Gatwick Fuel Shortage Disrupts Operations
GB News was interrupted for an update on the situation at one of the country's most important airports. Calder noted: "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 mentioned that aviation workers are being asked to "fill up their tanks before they get here" as Gatwick is "running a bit short". On 3 August, a notice dispatched 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."
Airlines Advised to Monitor Fuel Availability
A spokesperson for Gatwick Airport stated: "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."
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. The data reveals that so far this summer, 36 of 1050 flights departing from Gatwick and Heathrow airports heading to Majorca have been cancelled - which equates to around 3.44 per cent.
Compensation Rights for Passengers
Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, stated: "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."
