Brits in Central Florida overwhelm flights home
Orlando International Airport is among a group of airports seeking $10 billion in US government aid to help offset losses incurred by the sharp drop in travel due to coronavirus, said Phil Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
“What we’re looking at is an unprecedented downturn in traffic,” he said. “We all have obligations — in particular debt-service obligations.”
Brown said the group of airports have been in discussions with the White House and US lawmakers concerned about making the payments on bonds used for airport construction and other projects.
Asked if he was hopeful OIA would get some federal help, he said, “All I can tell you is we’re going to persevere.”
OIA, the nation’s 10th-busiest airport, handles nearly 50 million passengers annually and employs 25,000 workers and is undergoing a $4.2 billion capital improvement plan to improve the main terminal and add a new south terminal.
Meanwhile several airlines will suspend service late Monday to London, Manchester and Dublin, responding to orders by President Trump banning travel from the United Kingdom and Ireland by non-U.S. citizens. British tourists seeking to return home from Central Florida already have overwhelmed flight schedules of their nation’s carriers, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, according to Orlando International Airport’s spokeswoman. But Brown said Virgin Atlantic received permission for six outgoing 747 flights — three Tuesday and three Wednesday to the UK.
“They’re going to accommodate as many as they can,” he said.
Late Monday, Virgin Atlantic informed the airport that it had been given the go-ahead for six rescue flights for British citizens at Orlando’s airport, with three each day on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Brown said as many as an estimated 3,000 U.K. residents are seeking to move up their reservation for a return flight as Central Florida’s theme parks and hotels close their doors.
Of the flights to the U.K. and Ireland, the final Aer Lingus service to Dublin departs at 10:15 p.m.
A British Airways flight to London leaves at 7:25 p.m. Virgin Atlantic service to London departs at 7:05 p.m., while a Virgin flight to Manchester leaves at 8:10 p.m.
A Norwegian to London flight departs at 10:25 p.m.
Brown said no long lines or crowds of U.K. residents have formed at the airport.
As with most airplanes, Virgin and British Airways have cut back flights and disclosed deep financial distress resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.