Haunting photos show 50 British Airways planes grounded at Bournemouth Airport in coronavirus lockdown
HAUNTING pictures show 50 British Airways planes sat on a runway as the coronavirus crisis halts travel. Hundreds of tourist should have been flying high on these airplanes heading to destinations all over the world as Easter holidays start. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates But all over the […]
HAUNTING pictures show 50 British Airways planes sat on a runway as the coronavirus crisis halts travel.
Hundreds of tourist should have been flying high on these airplanes heading to destinations all over the world as Easter holidays start.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
But all over the world plans have been paused as countries are in lockdown and restrictions on daily life are in place.
The planes have been parked up at Bournemouth Airport after Heathrow became too full of grounded flights.
They have been neatly lined up, and then left, as Britain waits out the health crisis gripping the country.
Coronavirus has now claimed the lives of 1,019 Brits, and infected 17,089 people.
The National Police Air Service tweeted about the line of planes waiting to be used at Bournemouth.
A post said: “Not something you see everyday. @British_Airways jets all lined up at @BOHAirport basking in the sun.
“Not quite to the @rafredarrows standards but a good effort.”
It comes as BA bosses wrote to members of its younger ‘mixed fleet’ to stand down as it battles to survive.
UK airlines have seen their schedules reduced by up to 95 per cent, and BA boss Alex Cruz publicly painted a bleak future as coronavirus decimates travel plans.
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Rachael Taylor, Head of Mixed Fleet, wrote to devastated new entrants: “As I am sure you are aware, the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are affecting us significantly.
“As a result of this we have taken the difficult decision to stand you down from your contract and the business. This is known as ‘lay-off’.”
Coronavirus cases are set to peak over Easter in the UK, leading experts say.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries said cases will rise for “two to three weeks” then fall if Brits respect the lockdown.
She said: “If people have cut down their social interactions, we would start to see a change in the graph.”
“The peak will be pushed forward but the height will be lower and we can manage NHS hospital care safely.”
BRITAIN BUCKLES DOWN
Brits are shaming their neighbours for ignoring strict government rules by phoning cops.
Cops have said the 101 line has become inundated after officers were given special powers to impose Boris Johnson’s string of drastic measures.
Anyone who flouts the new crackdown will face fines of up to £1,000 or even arrest.
And the Army is transforming London’s ExCel centre into an enormous makeshift hospital to fight coronavirus.
Together with the NHS, the Ministry of Defence is rapidly creating the 4,000 bed-capacity NHS Nightingale in the heart of the capital.
London is the worst hit with the virus so far, with hospitals already struggling to cope with the influx of patients.
To tackle the killer virus the huge building – usually used for exhibitions, conferences and sporting events – is becoming another hospital – with ventilators and oxygen.
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The makeshift hospitals will be similar to those seen in coronavirus ground zero Wuhan, which were rapidly built as the virus took hold.
Last week we told how supermarkets including Iceland and Tesco announced special store hours for NHS staff so they can access food and essentials during the coronavirus epidemic.
It comes after one nurse made a tearful plea to fellow shoppers to stop stockpiling food and essentials after ending her 48-hour shift to find supermarket shelves empty.
