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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2018/dec/21/gatwick-drone-airport-limited-flights-live
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
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| Gatwick drone chaos: flights resume as airport reopens – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There is quite a lot of irritation online at the lack of information coming out of Gatwick Airport and some airlines. | |
| Please @Gatwick_Airport @easyjet some viable information on your websites? I've been up all night looking for non existent flights to get my family together for xmas https://t.co/sEWYwaxKhN | |
| Gatwick Airport’s official Twitter account didn’t post any new information for seven hours throughout the night, remaining silent between 11pm and 6am. | |
| Due to the unprecedented volume of tweets we’re receiving at the moment we are posting regular updates here, but may be unable to respond to individuals. Please check the latest flight information with your airline. We apologise for the continued disruption today. | |
| At about 6am they tweeted “due to the unprecedented volume of tweets we’re receiving at the moment we are posting regular updates here”, but since then have not posted anything. | |
| Though they do have a notice running on their website: | |
| Gatwick’s runway is currently available and a limited number of aircraft are scheduled for departure and arrival. | |
| Gatwick continues to advise passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport as departures and arrivals will be subject to delays and cancellations. | |
| easyJet hasn’t posted on Twitter for 13 hours and has had the same update live on its website since 4:30am, confirming the runway is now open and that they “expect... the number of departures and landings will be restricted to begin with”. | |
| Credit where its due, British Airways’ social media team have been working overtime to respond individually to customer inquiries. | |
| Three more planes are taxiing at Gatwick, two to Alicante and one to Geneva. They are: | |
| easyJet flight EZY24QY to Alicante | |
| British Airways flight BA2736 to Geneva | |
| British Airways flight BA 2632 to Alicante | |
| We have lift-off! | |
| The Norwegian Airlines flight D82968 to Rovaniemi has taken off and is now on its way to deliver its passengers to Finland. | |
| Safe travels D82968. | |
| The Rovaniemi flight is on the runway. No estimated departure time yet. But this is exciting. I am really barracking for these Rovaniemi travellers. | |
| We still haven’t seen any planes depart Gatwick, which is what the thousands of people currently stranded there are waiting for. | |
| The Norwegian Arlines D82968 flight to Rovaniemi Finland was due to take off at 5:45am and has been listed on the Gatwick departures board as “LAST CALL” for about an hour now. Fingers crossed that that flight leaves soon, we’ll keep you posted. | |
| For those interested in the riveting game that is Live Flight Departure Board Watch, you can play along at home, by looking here. | |
| And the good news keeps on rolling. The China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai is just about to land into Gatwick. | And the good news keeps on rolling. The China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai is just about to land into Gatwick. |
| This is the first international flight to land at the airport and you can imagine the relief of those people onboard the plane at the prospect of a safe landing. The flight from Shanghai is 12 hours and 45 minutes, so well done to all those passengers who made it, who I imagine will be keen on a stiff drink, a shower, and a good sleep. | This is the first international flight to land at the airport and you can imagine the relief of those people onboard the plane at the prospect of a safe landing. The flight from Shanghai is 12 hours and 45 minutes, so well done to all those passengers who made it, who I imagine will be keen on a stiff drink, a shower, and a good sleep. |
| More flights are listed as boarding at Gatwick Airport, with gates open. Congratulations to all those who have been sleeping (as much as anyone ever sleeps at an airport) and have awoken to news they will be going to Alicante this morning as they hoped. pic.twitter.com/y4xiMpZQG7 | More flights are listed as boarding at Gatwick Airport, with gates open. Congratulations to all those who have been sleeping (as much as anyone ever sleeps at an airport) and have awoken to news they will be going to Alicante this morning as they hoped. pic.twitter.com/y4xiMpZQG7 |
| The first plane has landed at Gatwick airport after the airport was closed for more than 24 hours, meaning the airport is up and running. | The first plane has landed at Gatwick airport after the airport was closed for more than 24 hours, meaning the airport is up and running. |
| The Thomas Cook flight is coming into land at Gatwick. It’s due to touch down in one minute, which means, ladies and gentlemen, we officially have a somewhat functioning airport. | The Thomas Cook flight is coming into land at Gatwick. It’s due to touch down in one minute, which means, ladies and gentlemen, we officially have a somewhat functioning airport. |
| I feel like there should be enforced applause when it lands, like Ryanair does when their planes arrive on time. | I feel like there should be enforced applause when it lands, like Ryanair does when their planes arrive on time. |
| The race is on! I think the China Eastern Airlines flight will be beaten to Gatwick by a Thomas Cook Airlines flight MT480, which is estimated to land 10 minutes before the China Airlines flight, with an estimated arrival time of 5:49am. This is oddly exciting. | The race is on! I think the China Eastern Airlines flight will be beaten to Gatwick by a Thomas Cook Airlines flight MT480, which is estimated to land 10 minutes before the China Airlines flight, with an estimated arrival time of 5:49am. This is oddly exciting. |
| China Eastern Airlines could be beaten by Thomas Cook Airlines flight MT480. Who will win the race to be first to land at Gatwick after the closures? pic.twitter.com/IRObUNTlZc | China Eastern Airlines could be beaten by Thomas Cook Airlines flight MT480. Who will win the race to be first to land at Gatwick after the closures? pic.twitter.com/IRObUNTlZc |
| It appears we have our first flight on track to land at Gatwick in more than 24 hours. | It appears we have our first flight on track to land at Gatwick in more than 24 hours. |
| It is China Eastern Airlines flight MU201 from Shanghai to Gatwick. It is an Airbus A330-243 and its estimated time of arrivals is 5:59am. | It is China Eastern Airlines flight MU201 from Shanghai to Gatwick. It is an Airbus A330-243 and its estimated time of arrivals is 5:59am. |
| Here comes the MU201 China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai. Could this be the first flight to land at Gatwick in more than 24 hours? pic.twitter.com/YlxWM1yy5I | Here comes the MU201 China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai. Could this be the first flight to land at Gatwick in more than 24 hours? pic.twitter.com/YlxWM1yy5I |
| easyJet have also confirmed the runway is open and they are expecting flights to recommence shortly. | easyJet have also confirmed the runway is open and they are expecting flights to recommence shortly. |
| “Gatwick airport have confirmed that the runway is now open. We do expect that the number of departures and landings will be restricted to begin with, which means that we are likely to experience more disruption to the flying programme. We would like to request our passengers to continue to check the status of their flight on the easyJet Flight Tracker www.easyjet.com/en/flight-tracker” | “Gatwick airport have confirmed that the runway is now open. We do expect that the number of departures and landings will be restricted to begin with, which means that we are likely to experience more disruption to the flying programme. We would like to request our passengers to continue to check the status of their flight on the easyJet Flight Tracker www.easyjet.com/en/flight-tracker” |
| Exciting times, we have a “LAST CALL” announcement on Gatwick airport’s live departures website. | Exciting times, we have a “LAST CALL” announcement on Gatwick airport’s live departures website. |
| Apparently the Norwegian Airlines flight D82968 to Rovaniemi, Finland is on track to depart from Gatwick airport in 10 minutes. The airport has issued a “last call” for passengers to head to Gate 28. So if you’re reading this and you’re due on that plane, run to Gate 28. Everyone else, take heart from this. | Apparently the Norwegian Airlines flight D82968 to Rovaniemi, Finland is on track to depart from Gatwick airport in 10 minutes. The airport has issued a “last call” for passengers to head to Gate 28. So if you’re reading this and you’re due on that plane, run to Gate 28. Everyone else, take heart from this. |
| Flight Radar is showing quite a bit of activity on the ground at Gatwick airport. Those small grey rectangles are ground vehicles. We haven’t seen any plane icons appear yet, but when we do, that’s a sign that planes may be about to take off. | Flight Radar is showing quite a bit of activity on the ground at Gatwick airport. Those small grey rectangles are ground vehicles. We haven’t seen any plane icons appear yet, but when we do, that’s a sign that planes may be about to take off. |
| We’re working to confirm more about the reopening of the airport – which flights will go ahead, when flights will begin taking off etc – I’ve contacted Gatwick airport and British Airways for more information. | We’re working to confirm more about the reopening of the airport – which flights will go ahead, when flights will begin taking off etc – I’ve contacted Gatwick airport and British Airways for more information. |
| But in the meantime, enjoy this tweet from a disgruntled passenger, who is unimpressed at the advertisement on his boarding pass for a flight today that may end up being cancelled, which advertises ... drones. | But in the meantime, enjoy this tweet from a disgruntled passenger, who is unimpressed at the advertisement on his boarding pass for a flight today that may end up being cancelled, which advertises ... drones. |
| The advert was placed before the issues at Gatwick and has now been removed. We are sorry for any offence. | The advert was placed before the issues at Gatwick and has now been removed. We are sorry for any offence. |
| More promising news from British Airways, who say “the airport is back open and the majority of flights operating as scheduled”. | More promising news from British Airways, who say “the airport is back open and the majority of flights operating as scheduled”. |
| We've received confirmation 10 minutes ago from London Gatwick, advising the airport is back open and the majority of flights operating as scheduled, Samuel. Your flight looks good to go on time, however, please feel free to check our website in case of any change. ^Lisa | We've received confirmation 10 minutes ago from London Gatwick, advising the airport is back open and the majority of flights operating as scheduled, Samuel. Your flight looks good to go on time, however, please feel free to check our website in case of any change. ^Lisa |
| Good morning and welcome to the Gatwick chaos live blog. An especial welcome to those of you who have spent what I imagine was a fairly uncomfortable night sleeping at Gatwick airport. | Good morning and welcome to the Gatwick chaos live blog. An especial welcome to those of you who have spent what I imagine was a fairly uncomfortable night sleeping at Gatwick airport. |
| We start with some qualified good news, which is that Gatwick airport have announced there may be a partial reopening of the airport shortly. | We start with some qualified good news, which is that Gatwick airport have announced there may be a partial reopening of the airport shortly. |
| “We are currently working with airlines and air traffic controllers to introduce a limited number of flights over the coming hours,” said the airport on its website. | “We are currently working with airlines and air traffic controllers to introduce a limited number of flights over the coming hours,” said the airport on its website. |
| “Gatwick continues to advise passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport.” | “Gatwick continues to advise passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport.” |
| British Airways, in response to a query from a passenger on Twitter, said they have received an update and the “airport is open and we’re operating a schedule as per ba.com”. | British Airways, in response to a query from a passenger on Twitter, said they have received an update and the “airport is open and we’re operating a schedule as per ba.com”. |
| Hi Matt. We've received an update and the airport is open and we're operating a schedule as per https://t.co/2Ty8CEO0Dq. Please check the website before setting out. ^Neil | Hi Matt. We've received an update and the airport is open and we're operating a schedule as per https://t.co/2Ty8CEO0Dq. Please check the website before setting out. ^Neil |
| Gatwick has warned people to check with their airline before leaving for the airport, and given the number of delayed and cancelled flights since Wednesday night, and the fact that the reopening seems to only be partial, people should still anticipate heavy delays. | Gatwick has warned people to check with their airline before leaving for the airport, and given the number of delayed and cancelled flights since Wednesday night, and the fact that the reopening seems to only be partial, people should still anticipate heavy delays. |