LONDON (AP) — Gatwick Airport, London's second-busiest, is limiting flights this week, partly because of an outbreak of COVID-19 within air traffic control.
In a statement late Monday, the airport said a daily 800-flight limit, affecting both departures and arrivals, has been imposed until Sunday.
Gatwick said around 30% of staff in the division within air traffic control are off sick for a variety of reasons, including COVID-19.
It said the daily cap will prevent last-minute cancellations and delays for passengers while National Air Traffic Services, or NATS, gets back to normal.
NATS apologized to passengers but said that a variety of medical reasons meant it can't manage the normal flows in and out of the airport.
Persons:
Stewart Wingate, NATS
Organizations:
—, Airport, Sunday, Gatwick, National Air Traffic Services
Locations:
London's, Britain