Airlines encourage passengers to rebook flights to avoid Heathrow gridlock
27.11.11
Airlines have started taking steps to try and prevent ‘gridlock’ at Heathrow next Wednesday during the planned strike by immigration officers, the FT reports. British Airways, VIrgin Atlantic, American Airlines, United Continental and Scandinavian Airlines are all offering passengers due to fly into Heathrow on November 30 the chance to change to flights on a different day at no extra charge. However, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa said they had not decided whether to try and comply with a request by BAA, Heathrow’s owner, to fly half-full aircraft into the airport.
BAA told airlines on Thursday that the strike by immigration officers could paralyse Heathrow. Gatwick also warned passengers to be prepared for ‘significant disruption’ at immigration checkpoints. BAA said passengers arriving at Heathrow could have to wait up to 12 hours to clear passport control because of the strike, adding some could have to sit on aircraft for long periods, blocking aircraft parking stands, delaying outbound flights and leading to long delays and mass cancellations.
BAA is not expecting long delays at Stansted, Edinburgh or Glasgow airports, although some delays are expected.
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