[Anonymous]

[TominScotland]

Tough 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

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23747391

[AMcWhirter]

The 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

[LuganoPirate]

In another thread, SimonS1 posted a link to FlightAware showing the diversion.

http://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/VIR25/history/20130817/1905Z/EGLL/CYQX

[LuganoPirate]

VS 25A just approaching St. Pierre et Miquelon closely followed by today’s VS25 to New York. As seen if FlightRadar24.com

[SimonS1]

A real pain. Thank heavens for EU261. Collect Eur 600 and pass go.

[pdtraveller]

Almost 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!

[IanFromHKG]

The 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

[kevin46]

That’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.

[LuganoPirate]

Maybe 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?

[BigDog.]

Many years ago I recall the stop offs being Bangor, Maine as opposed to Gander.

[TominScotland]

BigDog, 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.

[Author]

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