Simon says: travellers always suffer when traffic control fails

 
9 December 2013

What is the situation where passengers are loaded onto aircraft in Europe and then held on a stand for three hours? - Martin Chapman

You were among tens of thousands of travellers who suffered as a result of the partial failure of the NATS air-traffic control centre at Swanwick in Hampshire on Saturday. As the effects spread, British Airways cancelled around 150 domestic and European departures in and out of Heathrow, with 13 more cancellations yesterday.

Many more passengers, on a range of airlines, were hit by long delays. I have heard numerous accounts of passengers boarding aircraft only to be informed that the take-off slot was two or three hours away.

The apparently cruel and unusual punishment is actually a gamble on the part of the captain. He or she will have concluded that the discomfort and frustration of sitting on board going nowhere was outweighed by a slim prospect of an earlier departure. If a slot suddenly becomes available, only a flight that is ready to go with everyone on board and the door closed is in with a chance.

Some travellers assert that airlines did it to avoid their obligation to provide refreshments to delayed passengers. Not true; indeed, easyJet offered free tea, coffee and water while planes sat on the Tarmac at Gatwick.

In the US, airlines are obliged to file a “Tarmac Contingency Plan” for such events, covering everything from providing snacks to ensuring the toilets are kept in reasonable condition. After the weekend’s miserable experiences for so many travellers, there may be calls for similar legislation in Europe. But don’t expect it to take effect any time soon.

Email your queries to s@hols.tv

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