Now BA stops all Gatwick f lights

BRITISH Airways has suspended all flights from Britain’s second-biggest airport amid warnings airlines are heading for an ‘apocalypse’.

The airline told staff yesterday that it will withdraw operations from Gatwick following a collapse in passenger numbers.

In a separate announcement, Gatwick said it will close its north terminal and reduce the opening hours of the south terminal to eight hours a day.

The West Sussex airport usually handles 130,000 passengers daily and is used by BA for flights to Europe, the US and the Caribbean. Just 33 flights passed through Gatwick yesterday, according to aviation website FlightStats. most of the airport’s 2,500 staff have been placed on temporary leave.

BA has moved the entirety of its operations to London Heathrow and has made severe cuts to its schedules.

It came as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed ministers were in discussions over possible financial help for crisishit airports and airlines. The International Air Transport Association has warned that airlines face an ‘apocalypse’ without urgent help from governments.

And industry leaders have told ministers that UK airports are expected to close within weeks without Government aid.

The Airport operators Association yesterday accused the Government of ‘lagging behind’ other countries in supporting the sector. ministers are said to be reluctant to offer a full industry aid package, as it would involve giving tens of millions of pounds to bigger airlines with wealthy shareholders.

Speaking on Radio 4’s Today programme, mr Shapps said: ‘We are very firmly aware that a lot of the airlines have shareholders who will be expected by the public to put their hands in their pockets.’ BA’s withdrawal from Gatwick came just 24 hours after EasyJet announced plans to indefinitely ground its fleet of more than 300 aircraft. Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic, TUI and Jet2 have also cancelled the vast majority of flights.

BA said: ‘We are contacting affected customers to discuss their options.’