After the London City Airportwhich closed its doors last week, it's now London's turn. Gatwick to announce the closure of the North terminal from April 1. This terminal handled all the flights operated by easyJet, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic. The airport also operates a reduced schedule, from 2pm to 10pm, the departure time for the few long-haul flights still in operation.
A London HeathrowBritish Airways is no longer using terminal 3, which is also operated by long-haul airlines. The British carrier prefers to concentrate all its activities at Terminal 5its central hub. All shops are closed except for three outlets, including a takeaway restaurant, a pharmacy and a newsagent. All lounges are closed at all airports, as the British government considers them to be catering areas in the same way as bars and restaurants.
London Stansted and London Luton remain open to the public despite the sharp reduction in flights. At Luton, for example, only the low-cost carrier Wizz Air will continue to operate flights following the suspension of Easyjet flights. An average of six flights a day...
All eyes are now on the government to find out its position on the airline rescue This includes British Airways, easyJet, Loganair and Virgin Atlantic. The CEO of Virgin Atlantic, the charismatic Richard Branson, has publicly spoken of a £7.5 billion rescue plan. As for Boris Johnson's government, its statements have sown confusion in the airline sector. The government would like the airlines' private shareholders to put their money where their mouths are first. In the event of a failure to refinance, it could come to the rescue, with the possibility of taking a stake in the carriers, which it would then bail out with public money. This would potentially lead to partial nationalisation, following the effective renationalisation of British rail services with the COVID-19 crisis.
This renationalisation would even give new hope to Flybe, which has been in administration since its liquidation at the beginning of March. The unions are now calling for the regional carrier to be taken into public ownership, as Flybe has been the only fast, efficient transport link for many British towns and cities.
