1000’s diverted after energy failure stops arrivals at Luton airport
At least 18 flights, believed to be carrying round 3,000 passengers in whole, have been diverted after a Sunday morning energy failure at Luton airport.
One Wizz Air jet landed at Beauvais northern France, whereas others have been re-routed to Doncaster, Liverpool and East Midlands airports.
Luton airport initially instructed passengers: “An earlier power failure in the area has resulted in the temporary loss of some navigational aids, meaning some disruption to flights.”
Aircraft couldn’t land for round three hours between 7am and 10am. Most of the arrivals have been on Wizz from japanese European airports, however an easyJet arrival from Belfast was re-routed to Gatwick.
The first flight to land, at 10.05am, was a Ryanair arrival from Dublin.
The Bedfordshire airport later tweeted: “Engineers have now resolved the issue caused by the earlier power outage and normal operations have resumed. Some knock-on disruption is likely.
“Passengers should speak to their airlines for the status of their flight.
“We’re very sorry for any inconvenience caused.”
One father or mother, tweeting as Wozza67, replied: “Thank you for diverting my daughter’s flight to East Midlands airport instead.
“Shouldn’t all systems be covered by battery and generator backup to ensure there isn’t this kind of disruption? Many companies have to do this for their computer systems. Aircraft navigation is a must.”
Some of the corresponding outbound flights are cancelled, whereas passengers booked on these which are departing face lengthy delays – over 5 hours within the case of the Wizz Air flight to Timisoara in Romania.
Under European air passengers’ rights guidelines, affected travellers will be capable of rebook, on different airways if needed, to get them to their vacation spot. But only a few seats can be found.
The disruption at Luton provides to the weekend’s mounting travel chaos, largely a results of widespread flight cancellations to and from Gatwick by easyJet.