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.”
Virgin Atlantic Flight Cancellations and Schedule Changes due to Iceland Volcano Eruption
Virgin Atlantic has released the following information regarding Flight Cancellations and Schedule Changes to Volcanic Ash from the Iceland Volcano Eruption. Flying through an area, or near to volcanic ash is prohibited for safety reasons therefore UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have extended the closure of UK Airspace once again, until at least 01: 00 on Tuesday 20th April 2010 Following this decision we have cancelled: · All flights in and out of the UK on Saturday 17th April 2010 · All flights in and out of the UK on Sunday 18th April 2010 · All flights in and out of the UK on Monday 19th April 2010 · As there are no flights departing the UK, the subsequent return flights into the UK will also be cancelled. An update regarding flights due to operate on Tuesday 20 April will be made available after 17:0OH (UK local time) on Monday 19th April 2010. Flights between Hong Kong and Sydney are currently scheduled to be operating as normal however passengers from Sydney with a connection on to London should not travel to Hong Kong until London flights have reopened. For more information on our Flight Disruptions Policy follow this link. If your flight has been cancelled, please do not travel to the airport. You should contact your travel agent to rebook on the next available flight. For direct bookings only call our flight disruption line on the following numbers 0844 209 8711 in the UK 1-800-862-8621 in the US Worldwide contact centre telephone numbers.