Michelle ThompsonGatwick Airport in the United Kingdom, the second-busiest airport in London, is limiting flights this week due in part to an outbreak of COVID-19 within air traffic control.
A daily 800-flight cap, which applies to both arrivals and departures, has been enforced until Sunday, the airport announced in a statement late on Monday.
According to Gatwick, almost 30% of the employees in the division of air traffic control are absent due to illness, including COVID-19. First, there were significant delays at Gatwick over the weekend due to an increase in sick days.
It claimed that while National Air Traffic Services, or NATS, returns to normal, the daily cap will shield travelers from last-minute cancellations and delays.
In a statement, Stewart Wingate, the chief executive of London Gatwick, stated, “This has been a difficult decision but the action we have taken today means our airlines can fly reliable flight programs, giving passengers more assurance that they will not face last-minute cancellations.”
On Friday, Sept. 29, 33 departures will be affected by the most cancellations.
Emily Martinez
