Airlines: Bermudians Stranded for the 6th Day
British Airways has just announced that they will cancel flights for Tuesday, April 20 – the 6th day of cancellations.
Numerous Bermudians, including the Premier, are stranded in England, due to the cancellations which are due to safety concerns from the volcanic ash. Many other locals have had their vacation plans disrupted, and unable to leave the island.
Bermuda’s snail-mail delivery has also been disrupted, with mail and packages that were sent to Europe, UK or Asia for the last five days effectively ‘stuck’ in Toronto, Canada.
The ticket office at L.F. Wade International Airport will be open today [Apr 18] and Tuesday afternoon from 1pm to 6pm to assist passengers in Bermuda.
Local British Airways spokesperson Sallie Singleton said:
There does seem to be optimism that some flights into and out of London airports might be able to resume later on Tuesday following the proposed reopening of UK and European airspace by the aviation authorities.
We are working on detailed plans to help as many passengers as possible and will aim to give customers as much notice as possible of the flight programme.
At the present time British Airways has more than 80 aircraft and almost 3,000 cabin crew out of position overseas across the global network.
All these aircraft will require detailed checks before they are cleared to enter service again. Inevitably this will mean delays and we ask for our customers’ patience and understanding in these very difficult circumstances.
Stocks of flagship European airlines have fallen, and the financial loss to the aviation industry is estimated to exceed $1 billion.
British Airways today said the cancellations are costing the company between £15 and £20 million a day [$22 - $30.5 million] and that it would be seeking government compensation.
British Airways Chief Executive Willie Walsh said:
This is an unprecedented situation that is having a huge impact on customers and airlines alike. We continue to offer as much support as we can to our customers. However, these are extraordinary circumstances that are beyond all airlines’ control.
To assist us with this situation, European airlines have asked the EU and national governments for financial compensation for the closure of airspace.
There is a precedent for this to happen as compensation was paid after the closure of US airspace following the terrorist events of 9/11 and clearly the impact of the current situation is more considerable.
