Virgin Atlantic has announced it is currently working on contingency
plans and re-scheduling of flights now that NATS will reopen UK airspace as of
22:00 tonight.
The full media release from Virgin Atlantic along with a comment from
Virgin Atlantic chief Executive Steve Ridgway can be read below
VIRGIN ATLANTIC UPDATE ON FLYING SCHEDULE
Virgin
Atlantic is continuing to work on its contingency plans following the
announcement by NATS that airspace will re-open at 22:00 this evening. As
such Virgin Atlantic plans to operate a number of flights to and from it’s UK
and international airports over the next 24 hours onwards, with the aim of
resuming its full flight schedule as soon as possible. The exact details of
which flights will operate will be published on the Virgin Atlantic website
later this evening.
Passengers
who are currently away from home will be notified if they are booked to travel
on any of the flights which are operating. Passengers who hold a confirmed
booking for flights from the UK should check the website to see if their flight
is operating. We strongly urge passengers not to travel to the airport over the
next few days unless they have a confirmed booking on a flight which is
confirmed to operate.
Virgin
Atlantic would like to reassure passengers that staff are working around the
clock to help minimise the disruption for passengers and would like to thank
them for their understanding and patience.
In addition Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin
Atlantic, commented;
“Virgin Atlantic welcomes the opening of UK
airspace and we will fully comply with the conditions set down by the CAA. The
safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority. We are working on
our contingency plans so that we can resume our scheduled passenger flights and
repatriate passengers at the earliest opportunity.
“Whilst the reopening of airspace is good news
both for passengers and the industry as a whole it is likely to take several
days to get everyone who has been affected to their destinations. We continue
to urge the Government to lay on further flights to speed up the repatriation
process.
“We know this situation has been extremely
difficult for passengers and so would like to continue to thank those affected
for their patience and understanding in this extraordinary situation. I would
also like to thank all of our staff who have worked around the clock to help
passengers around the world.”
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