Forum Topic

Flights into UK

Living under the flight path like most people here, we have enjoyed a couple of weeks of blissful peace with hardly any flights coming into Heathrow.It may be a figment of my imagination, but yesterday and today I have felt that there is a marked increase in the number of passenger flights coming into Heathrow.I know that there are a number of experts on this forum who will be able to confirm or not this perception.However, my main concern is what are all these people doing when they get here?They're not allowed out. They're not allowed to go and visit/stay with friends. So what are they doing?I can not believe that they are all repatriation flights but maybe they are?And shouldn't the government ban all flights into UK anyway?....

Richard Potts ● 2398d22 Comments

I too have noticed a (seemingly) higher number of flights. Cargo, maybe? (He says, hopefully).

Gordon McDonald ● 2398d

Yes there did seem to be more noticeable plane noise again yesterday.

Michael David Rowe ● 2398d

Thats becasue the wind direction changed from days of an eastern direction back to a westerly direction that effects chiswick

Julian Pavey ● 2398d

Absolutely right.
Flights this morning were using the western take-off and landing track. There has been five-ten minute(rather than 40 second) gaps between flights but they are still taking off late!
Quite a few passenger flights to the USA bbut the busiest route is to Dublin.
Quite a few incoming 're-designated' cargo flights from China and the Far East.

N V Brooks ● 2398d

Freight mainly also maintenance. Apart from government and other high ranking officials, nobody should be flying and if the public are then who are they and why are they allowed to make these journey’s?

c james ● 2397d

Flights are still running key routes. Its about 3% running if that. Airports in key locations are allowing travel if you have a good reason to travel. Like your a turkish citizen you can get a flight daily to istanbul to get home when you choose. What you cant do is jump on a plane for buisness or a holiday or visit someone becasue it sounds like a good idea. Examples without how many days between each service BA will not be running a service to istanbul as turkish airlines are doing so. BA and american airlines will share small service. Delta and virgin share serice. As far as i know virgin and Delta are allso sharing with KLM. "COVID-19 Exceptional Travel Advisory NoticeAs countries respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including travel and border restrictions, the FCO advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Any country or area may restrict travel without notice. If you live in the UK and are currently travelling abroad, you are strongly advised to return now, where and while there are still commercial routes available. Many airlines are suspending flights and many airports are closing, preventing flights from leaving"

Julian Pavey ● 2397d

I understand that BA normally have 700 scheduled daily flights and it’s down to 15, mainly repatriation and cargo.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2397d

Yes they are mainly freighters and special charters. No scheduled passenger flights coming in.

Steve Taylor ● 2397d

If you're interested in seeing where planes are coming from or going to, download the flightradar24 app - it's free of charge and shows on a map the individual planes. Zoom in on London and click on any of the planes shown to discover aircraft type and registration, flight number if available, and where they are from and heading to.

Sue Rowe ● 2397d

Well if we want fresh fruit and veg etc. in the shops it has to get here somehow (French beans from Egypt for example) so they must be coming in on planes surely.

Helen Whitman ● 2397d

Let's hope the flights from China are simply bringing in PPE gowns, where they're manufactured, as we seem to be running out.

Micki Hawkes ● 2397d

There are also loads of charter flights bringing in fruit and vegetable pickers from Romania and other Eastern European countries. We are currently short of 90,000 workers to pick our farmlands since the Brexit vote. I wonder how many newly unemployed Brits will apply for the jobs or if they will just join the dole queues.

Steve Taylor ● 2394d

1ST PART INCORRECT 2ND PART JUST A THOUGHT I would concentrate on the Eurozone Steve,its heading for trouble with italy and spain in deep deep finacial crisis. Germany bailout,they were not keen on greece at the time,but this is another level All to come

Julian Pavey ● 2394d

Although I've seen an advert in this country for seasonal workers on the farms, it is all over the press that there are Eastern European workers having to be flown in as otherwise the crops will rot in the fields.

Philippa Bond ● 2394d

"it is all over the press that there are Eastern European workers having to be flown in" Its not true. Needed acording to some papers like the guardian does not become happening. Try puting "Eastern European workers having to be flown in as otherwise the crops will rot" into google news search and not google search where the Guardian crops up

Julian Pavey ● 2394d

Thinking about the past headlines,one story was correct. The planes will be grounded. Only problem is they got the wrong reason why.

Julian Pavey ● 2394d

Take more water with it next time, Julian.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52293061

Ken Munn ● 2394d

Well based on the BBC 2 hrs ago it looks like your correct and im wrong for a flight coming in tomorrow. Guardian says One plane was due to land in Stansted airport on Wednesday afternoon. That seems not to have happenedon checking

Julian Pavey ● 2394d

Interesting bit at the bottom of that BBC article about job searches

Julian Pavey ● 2394d

Mainly cargo flights

Basil Finnis ● 2394d

There are charter flights coming in to Stansted and Gatwick as fast as the pickers can be recruited and persuaded to come here.  90,000 additional workers are needed on our farms if the crops aren’t to be left rotting. Prices will rocket!!

Steve Taylor ● 2394d

And more flights from Romania with farm workers arrived today to help us out. Hope they also get an applause.

Steve Taylor ● 2393d