British Airways to stop flying from Gatwick airport during lockdown

‘We have been urgently reviewing our schedule for November,’ says airline

British Airways suspends operations at Gatwick airport (Nick Morrish/British Airways )

British Airways is to suspend flights from Gatwick Airport and pause operations there during England’s national lockdown.

The British flag carrier said flights would first be “reduced”, then “paused” until early December, when restrictions are due to lift.

“Following the Government's announcement of a new national lockdown for England last Saturday, we have been urgently reviewing our schedule for November,” the airline told The Independent.

“Our focus is on keeping crucial air links open – bringing home the thousands of customers currently abroad, transporting vital goods, and ensuring people who are permitted to travel in and out of the UK for work, education and other reasons stipulated by the UK Government, can continue to do so.”

During England’s month-long lockdown, running from 5 November until 2 December, all non-essential travel, both domestic and international, has been banned by the UK government, with those found breaking the rules liable for fines of between £200 and £6,400.

This includes all holiday travel; the only exemptions for travel are work, education and other “legally permitted” reasons.

BA has said that all passengers affected by cancellations to its schedule will be contacted and given various options, including requesting a refund or credit voucher or rebooking for another date.

For customers whose flights aren’t cancelled but who can no longer travel because of the aforementioned ban, BA is encouraging them to go to ba.com “where they can request a voucher for future travel if their flight continues to operate.”

The only BA Gatwick flights that will continue to operate are those bringing passengers back to the UK and those transporting cargo, according to a staff letter seen by Sky News.

The airline took a similar course of action during the first national lockdown, opting to close its Gatwick base from the end of March.

A spokesperson said at the time: “Due to the considerable restrictions and challenging market environment, like many other airlines, we will temporarily suspend our flying schedule at Gatwick.

“We are contacting affected customers to discuss their options.”  

Other carriers, including easyJet and Tui, have opted to cancel nearly all flights to and from England during this second national lockdown.