Airline passengers who were left stranded after a power failure in Gatwick’s North Terminal on Christmas Eve have been offered £100 worth of High Street vouchers as an apology.
The loss of power on one of the year’s busiest travel days is currently being investigated as part of an inquiry by the airport, with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK's specialist aviation regulator, also carrying out an investigation into the events. Detailing the events on its website the airport said: “Gatwick Airport would like to extend its sincere apologies to all passengers who were affected by the disruptions on Christmas Eve.
“Extraordinarily adverse weather across the region, including exceptionally heavy rain caused all local waterways around Gatwick Airport to flood.” Those passengers affected by the delays and cancellations have been asked to contact the airport via customer.services@gatwickairport.com with their postal address and evidence that their flight was due to depart on or arrive on December 24th.
Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate added: “We appreciate that lots of our passengers were travelling to be with their families over the festive period and we are sorry that flights were cancelled and passengers left disappointed, particularly at this time of the year. “With this in mind, London Gatwick will be offering £100 of High Street vouchers to each passenger whose flight was cancelled on Christmas Eve as a gesture of goodwill in recognition of the exceptionally difficult circumstances.”
Responding to the offer, one Twitter user, Scott Ward, cited by The Telegraph, tweeted: "@Gatwick-Airport commendable customer service when the level headed passenger will understand it was out if the airport's control." The recent spate of bad weather in the UK has also affected trains to and from Gatwick Airport, with recent problems of electricity supply at South Croydon resulting in delays of up to 40 minutes on trains between East Croydon and Gatwick.
To ensure that you are covered for a number of eventualities on your trip it is important to organise travel insurance before you go.
Date Created: 03/01/2014
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