UK carriers warn of delays during Olympics

Several carriers have asked the UK government to do more to prevent travel disruptions during the Olympics.

Travel Insurance News - 19/03/2012

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The four largest British carriers – Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, BMI and easyJet – have urged officials via a letter issued at the weekend to take further action to ensure smooth operations during this summer’s Olympic Games. The airlines warn that any weather- or security-related incidents could lead to extensive disruptions and even travel chaos unless backup plans are put in place.

Carrier officials have suggested that disruptions could be brought to a minimum if air traffic controllers reverse normal procedures that allow scheduled commercial flights to be given landing priority over private aircraft and charter flights.

The letter, which comes ahead of a meeting between aviation figureheads and government officials on Thursday, said that the failure to enact procedures would be “reckless” and “foolhardy” and could lead to significant damage to Britain’s reputation.

Meanwhile, the Department for Transport has since said that it plans to employ a “range of special measures” during and ahead of the events, which run from 27 July through 12 August. Officials said the agency was confident that all of the industry’s concerns had already been addressed and that they were looking forward to this week’s meeting.

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