Oh Dear!! Heathrow passengers left stranded overnight in Canada
Back to Forum- This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 23 Aug 2013
at 08:03 by TominScotland.
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TominScotlandParticipantTough overnight wait for these passengers. I know Gander well – first visit was for a refulling stop on a DC8 in 1973 when the airfield was still very busy and I have worked in that part of the world since. My favourite memory is being hosted by the Mayor of Gander to “our Newfie favourite – hot turkey sandwich” – slabs of white bread with sliced turkey, drowned in thick Bisto-like gravy….. Canucklad – explain and justify!!
These days, there ain’t much to the airport beyond a very long runway.
See
18 Aug 2013
at 15:33
AMcWhirterParticipantThe full story has yet to emerge …. but VS is having to fly a replacement plane out from London. It’s still en route for Gander.
So the earliest the stranded passengers would be able to depart Gander is, according to Virgin Atlantic, 1520hrs local time. This equates to a delay of over 20 hours.
I wonder if EU261 will be effective in a case like this ?
As you say, Tom, the catering facilities at Gander are limited.
This picture, posted by one of the stranded passengers, has just been posted @VirginAtlantic. It shows a queue of passengers waiting for the ‘only cafe to open.’
https://twitter.com/jessieSenglish/status/369119515834978304/photo/1
18 Aug 2013
at 15:54
LuganoPirateParticipantIn another thread, SimonS1 posted a link to FlightAware showing the diversion.
http://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/VIR25/history/20130817/1905Z/EGLL/CYQX
18 Aug 2013
at 16:03
LuganoPirateParticipantVS 25A just approaching St. Pierre et Miquelon closely followed by today’s VS25 to New York. As seen if FlightRadar24.com
18 Aug 2013
at 17:16
pdtravellerParticipantAlmost certain they will not be entitled as VS will claim extraordinary circumstances! Would like to know if they do have a genuine lain and if VS pay out.
Airport looks clean and tidy though, bet toilets didn’t smell unlike LHR!
19 Aug 2013
at 07:56
IanFromHKGParticipantThe authorities have been trying to make it harder for airlines to claim “extraordinary circumstances”. New preliminary guidance was rolled out last month:
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/passengers/air/doc/neb-extraordinary-circumstances-list.pdf
19 Aug 2013
at 08:16
kevin46ParticipantThat’s amazing TominScotland, I have exactly the same memory of Gander. During my supernumery flight as cabin crew with BOAC in 1970, we were diverted to Gander. Since it was the middle of the night I decided on a turkey sandwich, expecting some dainty fingers sans crusts, but was served exactly the same gunk that you described, though I seem to remember mine was served with mashed potato.
23 Aug 2013
at 06:29
LuganoPirateParticipantMaybe one for the historic routes threads, but for nostalgia’s sake I’d love to fly the old route to Iceland, Greenland, Gander onwards. Can it be done do you think?
23 Aug 2013
at 07:30
TominScotlandParticipantBigDog, I think both were extensively used. Bangor was used extensively by Florida charter flights until relatively recently (1990s, I would guess). Certainly, all my early eastcoast US flights by DC8s in the very early 1970s refuled in Gander on the outbound and in Shannon on the return.
23 Aug 2013
at 07:57 -
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