British Airways cancels 100 flights during Queen’s funeral

BRITISH Airways has cancelled 100 flights on Monday due to the Queen’s funeral.

The airline is just one of the many being affected at London Heathrow next week.

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The London Airport has announced it will stop all flights for 15 minutes before the silence and for 15 minutes after it has finished.

Flights will also be grounded during the arrival of the funeral cortege and procession at Windsor Castle, and diverted around the castle to minimise noise during the private family service on Monday night.

A Heathrow spokesman said: “Heathrow and airlines are supporting the ceremonial aspects for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey and the committal service at Windsor Castle on Monday September 19 2022.

“As a mark of respect, operations to and from the airport will be subject to appropriate changes in order to avoid noise disruption at certain locations at specific times on Monday.”

British Airways is the airline most affected as the airport prepares to ground 15 per cent of the 12,000 flights due to take off or land from the airport on Monday.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said that because the cancellations are “outside of the airlines’ control” and due to “extraordinary circumstances” compensation will not be payable to consumers.

They said: “There will be restrictions to airspace in and around London over the coming days.

“If passengers experience disruption to their journeys as a result of these restrictions there are rules in place to protect them.

“Airlines will do everything they can to give passengers as much notice and support as possible when this occurs.

“Compensation is not normally payable where cancellations are caused by circumstances outside of the airline’s control.

“It is the view of the Civil Aviation Authority that cancellations arising as a direct result of these airspace closures are likely to be considered extraordinary circumstances.

“As a result, we do not anticipate that compensation will be payable to consumers.”

A British Airways spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “As a mark of respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her State Funeral, we have reduced our schedule and re-timed some flights at Heathrow to ensure the skies are quiet at certain moments on Monday September 19th.

“Our thoughts remain with the Royal Family and the nation.”

Edinburgh Airport closed its airspace earlier this week after the Queen’s coffin was flown from Scotland to London following the death of Her Majesty.

And Heathrow Airport confirmed on Wednesday that a number of flights would be delayed during the Queen’s procession.

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