Many, if not all airlines are having to operate ghost flights to cope with the impact of COVID-19 schedules, which of course has seen a devastating impact on the airlines movements around the world. A ghost flight is when a plane fly’s without passengers, and typically lands back at the airport they took off from. Sometimes these flights can be for as little as half an hour. 

 

In normal times, a ghost flight would happen for a couple of reasons. It could be in order to go and collect stranded passengers from an airport that has a stricken plane. This happened to us a couple of years ago in Italy (very long story). It can also be in order to move a plane from one location to another. During the current covid pandemic, the vast majority of ghost flights are now in order to keep the aircraft “ticking over” (a bit like taking a car for a quick run to keep the fluids moving around the engine and gearbox).  

With the UK vaccine rollout doing so well, many people are hoping that lockdown restrictions will be eased. The PM Boris Johnson, I thought, has been very clear with the roadmap targets having to be met BEFORE any lifting can be done. IF we all stick to the rules, there is a very strong chance that international travel could start to move again, and this would be a MASSIVE boost for the global economy. 

 

The UK tourists are a huge customer for Spain, and the brits love the weather and Spanish hospitality. The Spanish government know this and appreciate it, so I found the following few lines from the Spanish tourism minister very interesting and reassuring : 

A few weeks ago I mentioned Gatwick airport were looking at introducing a drop off fee for their customers. This has now been confirmed, and as suggested by so many prople, the fee will be a minimum of £5.00. 

I understand the reasons (and there are several), and the amount of revenue the airports have lost over the last year with the Covid 19 lockdowns is huge. When you hear of passenger numbers DOWN 90%, ofcourse they need to recoup some money (as do most businesses, regardless of their trade or service) 

 

Currently, only the North Terminal is open, and when the south reopens, the charge will also take effect there. From the 8th March, the charge will be £5.00 for 10 minutes, and then an additional £1.00 per minute up to a maximum of 10 minutes. Just like the rest of them !!! 

 

Interesting to see the airport trying to become green with the following statement : 

As the worlds battle with coronavirus continues, along with the great success of the UK vaccine roll out, unfortunately the aviation business has been dealt yet another blow. 

 

In order to try and contain new variants (mainly Brazil and South African), as mentioned in my previous blog, a red list of approximately 30 countries has come into effect. Most of us (me included), presumed these new rules took immediate effect from when the home secretary announced them several days ago. Alas not, they come into law from Monday 15th February. 

 

They are not too straight forward, and I have tried to understand them myself, and I hope a few lines from Matt Hancock,s Commons statement earlier today will help !!! (good luck) 

The UK Government have announced new quarantine hotel rules for ANYONE arriving at a UK airport. 

 

At the time of writing, a total of 30 countries are on a 'Red" list 

 

These countries are in South America and South Africa AND Portugal. This is due to two new strains of Covid-19 originating from these areas. 

PLEASE NOTE this list can change at any time 

 

If you fly into the UK from these countries AND even if you are a UK citizen, you will be bussed to a quarantine hotel, where you will have to stay for 10 days. This is at your cost. 

 

If you fly in from elsewhere, you will still need to quarrintine for 10 days (5 if another negative Covid test result) at your house or other declared address. 

Rumour has it, that in the next short while, government help for the stricken airports is going to be announced 

 

The "help" is an £8 million grant for each U.K. airport. It is said "this can be used to help towards standing costs, such as business rates" 

 

The problem is, this won't go very far, as apparently Heathrow airport's business rates are a staggering £10 million PER MONTH !!! 

 

All help is welcome, but this pales into insignificance when you hear of the help the pubs, bars and restaurants are receiving... 

 

 

It has just been announced by the U.K. government, that travellers will be banned from entering the U.K. from NEXT Thursday, 14th January 2021, if they DO NOT have a negative Covid test result within 72 hours of departure. 

 

The 10 day quarantine period remains, even with a negative Covid test result. 

 

The early test and release system also remains. 

 

Thie COVID ngative test result system has been in place by many governments around the world for several months 

PPTmk would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year 

 

Last year was an absolute nightmare for the vast majority of the world with the very ugly caronavirous spreading so rapidly. 

 

A lot has been spoken about the devastating impact it has had on so many businesses, but for some reason the aviation industry doesn't seem as important to the global economy, as, say the pubs, as an example 

 

All businesses are important and travel and tourism accounts for £200 billion (or 9%) of the U.K. economy 

Just wanted to say thankyou for your kind wishes and words of support during this crazy year and I would also like to thank STEVE for his help and advice this year (you know who you are) 

 

I hope we can all say goodbye to Caronavirous sometime soon in 2021... 

 

Please remember that PPTmk are fortunate enough to have weathered the global storm that was 2020 and we are ready to continue serving our customers (past, present and future) 

 

So, fingers crossed, let's all hope that global airport travel can resume and let's all try and get the world moving again... 

 

Best wishes for 2021 

 

PPT 

As we draw closer to the end of a crazy year, I just wanted to say thankyou to all my customers who have been able to use me for certain transfers this year. 

 

In what has been the most challenging year for people and businesses, from a health and economic sense, your support and good wishes are very much appreciated. 

 

I sincerely look forward to seeing you all sooner rather than later in 2021. 

 

Please all, look after yourselves and have a very safe, low key, socially distanced Christmas . 

 

Wishing all customers, past, present and future, the best for this festive season . 

 

PPT