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Gatwick airport news - March, 2009 |
Air Traffic Control Service, NATS, has been charged with age discrimination following its refusal to employ a 50 year old London man in a trainee position. NATS reject any candidates over 35 years old for their trainee controller positions on the grounds of safety. However, a tribunal ruled that the age limit was ‘irrational’ and was direct age discrimination.
He was declined employment, despite being qualified to train for the role, as NATS cited safety, recouping the cost of training and the performance of a 50 year old.
A spokesperson for NATS, Richard Wright, said: “We are very disappointed. The recruitment age limit was introduced following results of independent research that showed that the performance of controllers declined with age from 45 years. The controllers we employ at both Gatwick and Heathrow airport are responsible for the busiest airspaces in the UK and as such they need to be at the top of their game.” He went on to say that NATS was considering the outcome before deciding on its next course of action. |
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It has been reported that Gatwick Airport is suing low-cost airline, Ryanair. The figure is for £1.2m in a disagreement over check-in fees. Filed at the High Court last month, the lawsuit is over the check-in fees that the airport charges all airlines for using its check-in desks. Ryanair have refused to pay the full amount on 342 invoices issued in the last 5 years, since the airport changed its pricing structure.
As well as the unpaid fees, Gatwick Airport is also charging for interest and damages for breach of contract.
The new structure charges airlines per passenger, whereas previously airlines rented the check-in desks per hour.
A spokesperson for the airport said that it had talked to over 100 airlines using Gatwick, all of which had accepted the charges, bar Ryanair.
A spokesperson for Ryanair said on the lawsuit, “We rejected Gatwick’s claims as rubbish. There is no justification for their threefold increase in charges. We look forward to exposing them (Gatwick Airport) and this latest monopoly rip off in Court.” |
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The Gatwick Airport sale is on track BAA reported last week, however it declined to comment on the potential sale of Stansted Airport which industry insiders expect the Competition Commission to rule upon later this month.
It is anticipated that the sale of the UK’s second largest airport will complete by the middle of this year, raising a speculated £2bn, although industry experts say £1.8bn is more realistic. Several international groups are said to be interested in buying the airport, with first bids now in.
BAA, who are owned by Spanish company Ferrovial, have been forced to sell three of its seven airports. It has ruled out the sale of Heathrow, citing that either Edinburgh or Glasgow will also be put up for sale. |
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It was reported last week by The Telegraph, that Thomas Cook is to apply a charge to its flight only passengers to check in hand luggage.
Currently, passengers are able to carry a piece of luggage onboard Thomas Cook flights free of charge. However, from tomorrow, 2nd March, passengers who have booked a flight only ticket will be charged £8 for short haul flights and £15 on long haul flights for pieces of hand luggage weighing up to 20kg (current limit is 15kg).
Passengers who booked their ticket before 2nd March will be honoured with the free 15kg hand luggage carry on allowance.
This follows charges made by many budget airlines, and tour operators Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways for flight only passengers. |
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It was reported last month that a further consortium; a joint venture between Deutsche Bank's RREEF Infrastructure and Babcock & Brown, has withdrawn its buy-out bid for Gatwick Airport.
A spokesperson for Deutsche Bank's RREEF Infrastructure said that the challenging time-frame for carrying out a proper inspection, and due consideration of the proposal, combined with the difficulties of securing the appropriate finance had led to the withdrawal. London based Babcock & Brown were not available for comment.
This now leaves just four bidders for the London airport, the UK’s second largest airport. |
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A flight from Gatwick was hit by lightening as it landed at Paphos airport last week. The British Airways BA2864 plane, which was carrying 92 passengers, was hit by a ‘jolt’ as it was touching down. The landing was carried out safely, with the Captain advising passengers that the plane had been struck near the cockpit. All passengers and crew disembarked without incident.
The plane, which immediately underwent safety checks, did not return to Gatwick as intended, with its return flight passengers being put up in a hotel over night. They returned home the following day. |
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