British Airways denies compensation for Stanley Johnson flight incident

On June 28, 2024, a British Airways flight from Malaga to London Gatwick was diverted to Heathrow due to a runway blockage at Gatwick. The Airbus A321, carrying around 200 passengers including Stanley Johnson, was delayed for over three hours as it landed at Heathrow to refuel before attempting to reach Gatwick. However, the plan was disrupted when Stanley Johnson and another passenger chose to disembark at Heathrow, causing the flight to miss its scheduled slot to continue to Gatwick. Passengers expected compensation for the delay, but British Airways cited a European Union clause that treats all airports serving a city as equivalent. This meant that since the flight ultimately reached London, the airline was not liable for compensation despite the inconvenience caused to passengers who had arranged for pickups at Gatwick. One passenger, Annemarie, expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting the confusion and inconvenience of being offloaded at Heathrow instead of Gatwick. British Airways communicated to passengers that the diverted flight was treated as arriving within the acceptable time frame, thus negating compensation claims. The incident left many passengers dissatisfied, especially as subsequent flights that the aircraft was scheduled to operate were canceled, allowing those passengers to claim compensation. British Airways is reportedly reviewing individual cases, including Annemarie's, as they address customer feedback and aim to prevent similar issues in the future.