WestJet Route | Frequency | Start Date | End Date | Departure | Arrival time |
St. John's – London | 3x weekly | May 1, 2024 | October 25, 2024 | 12:15 a.m. | 9:00 a.m. |
London John's | 3x weekly | May 1, 2024 | October 25, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. | 1:15 p.m. |
WestJet Route | Frequency | Start Date | End Date | Departure | Arrival time |
St. John's – London | 3x weekly | May 1, 2024 | October 25, 2024 | 12:15 a.m. | 9:00 a.m. |
London John's | 3x weekly | May 1, 2024 | October 25, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. | 1:15 p.m. |
As millions of people are expected to travel through UK airports over the upcoming half term, the Department for Transport (DfT) has refreshed the newly named Air passenger travel guide, making it even easier for passengers to know their rights and responsibilities when they travel.
Formerly known as the aviation passenger charter, it details what people can expect from airlines, travel agents, tour operators and airports, and what to do if things don’t go to plan.
This includes advice on what to do if flights are cancelled or delayed, if baggage goes missing, and the rights of disabled passengers, as well as guidance on how to complain if passengers feel they have been treated unfairly.
Not only does it help passengers in these stressful situations, the travel guide also provides general advice for all aspects of your journey, such as what to expect at passport control, what you can bring through UK customs and how to manage connecting flights.
It also reminds passengers to regularly check the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO) website for the latest security and safety advice before booking travel, as well as what counts as an extraordinary circumstance when compensation isn’t available.
The advice also makes clear that while security checks are changing over the coming months, they should continue to be prepared to remove electronics and small liquids from their bags when travelling by air.
Aviation Minister Baroness Vere said:
"Whether going on holiday, travelling for business or visiting loved ones, we all want our journeys to be smooth and without any hiccups, which is why the air passenger travel guide is so important.
Having a one-stop shop of information and advice, which is clear and concise, will help improve the overall travel experience and make sure passengers are getting what they deserve."
London Gatwick’s application to bring its Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway, was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate on 03 August 2023.
Relevant Representations must be made on the Planning Inspectorate's Registration and Relevant Representation Form, which can be found on their website here.
Those who register will be submitting a ‘Relevant Representation’ to become an ‘Interested Party’. They will be kept informed of progress of the examination and will have the opportunity to provide further representations during the examination phase.
The Planning Inspectorate provides further guidance on how to register and make a relevant representation on their website here
By investing in its long-term future, London Gatwick will also enhance the crucial economic role it plays by creating around 14,000 new jobs and injecting £1 billion into the region’s economy every year. This growth would come from increased jobs and activity on the airport site, as well as the wider benefits of tourism, trade, supply chain, and other business opportunities.
London Gatwick has seen the second-highest number of delays across the whole of Europe, with over two in five outgoing flights arriving late (41%) at the beginning of August, according to data analysed by flights comparison site, FlightsFinder.
The capital also took another seat on the delays list with London Heathrow being the sixth worst on the continent as a result of almost 1 in 3 (28%) of its outward planes being held up.
Taking the top spot overall though is Frankfurt International Airport, with a whopping half (49%) of flights delayed.
39% of flights were delayed at Charles de Gaulle/Roissy CDG, positioning it in third place, closely followed by Paris Orly in fourth place with 38% delayed and Istanbul Airport in fifth with 33%.
Making up the eight European airports experiencing the most delays at the start of this month are Vienna Int'l and Pôle Caraïbes (PTP), both with 26% of flights delayed.
European airports aren’t the only ones tackling difficulties at the moment though. An average of 30,000 global flights are delayed every single day Forbes reveals - a staggering number considering that this is almost a third of the estimated 100,000 flights each day worldwide.
In fact, flight delays have soared to a 10-year high in 2023 according to Flight Aware.
Through this partnership with The Hygiene Bank, Gatwick estimates 10 tonnes of aerosols and cosmetics, which would otherwise be waste, will be donated to local communities by the end of 2023.
Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick said: “This is a perfect time for us to launch our new brand and refreshed vision, as we head into our second year of recovery from the global pandemic and look to embark on a very promising chapter of growth.We are taking a multi-dimensional approach, combining investment in airport development, along with a new visual identity, to rejuvenate the image of London Gatwick. We expect this will translate to more people choosing to fly from the airport, with even more exciting destinations for passengers.Our previous brand served us well for over 10 years, but it’s now the right time to modernise and update our airport. As we look ahead to future growth, our refreshed brand celebrates the past and brings us into the future.”
● Strong recovery (54%) in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year● All-time record traffic numbers in Q1 in Portugal, Serbia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica● Excluding Asia, VINCI Airports’ overall traffic numbers are nearing pre-pandemic levels (just 4% below 2019 levels)● Improvement in Asia driven by domestic traffic in Japan and international regional travel
Ministers have agreed 10 areas for the aviation industry to focus on to address the issues with ground handling at airports seen last summer
Aim to help the aviation industry to rebuild its strength and resilience, so they can deliver for passengers for years to come
Follows an in-depth review of how the ground handling industry works and wide-ranging consultation with industry.
Aviation Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton said: "The misery passengers faced last year when their flights were severely delayed or cancelled at the last minute was simply unacceptable.We’ve made it clear that improvements can and must be made, so the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) are working closely with the industry to build a resilient ground handler market for years to come."
further exploration of how to improve how ground handlers’ performance is measured and monitoredbetter engagement between ground handlers and the government, including through the new Aviation Services UK trade associationcontinued support from the government and industry’s flagship Generation Aviation programme for recruitment, retention, upskilling and outreachestablishing a series of working groups involving airports, airlines and ground handlers to address areas including airport ID processes and performance standards