Virgin Atlantic passengers flying in a single day tonight from Johannesburg to London will discover their journey prolonged by 600 miles and three hours.
A scarcity of gasoline at Johannesburg’s O R Tambo airport – the primary hub for South Africa – has led Virgin Atlantic to divert its in a single day flight from the town by way of Durban, which is 300 miles south.
After departure from Johannesburg at 6.45pm, the Airbus A350 will fly away from London to the coastal metropolis’s airport, the place it’ll refuel. The onward journey to London is sort of 6,000 miles and entails flying very near Johannesburg.
Passengers have been informed: “We wished to supply you some vital data in your flight from Johannesburg to London Heathrow on 28 April.
“Due present gasoline provide points at OR Tambo Worldwide Airport, we’re unable to gasoline our plane as regular on the airport.
“Due to this fact, your flight will briefly function by way of Durban, in an effort to complement gasoline and proceed to the UK. All passengers will stay on board throughout this course of. “The Durban cease will add roughly three hours to the journey time and is a vital measure to allow clients to finish their journey plans.
“We apologise for any inconvenience brought about and are monitoring gasoline deliveries intently, sustaining common contact with native companions.”
Johannesburg airport has suffered sporadic gasoline shortages in current months, however they’ve been exacerbated by flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, which has interrupted provide chains in South Africa.
Earlier this week United Airways cancelled flights between New York and Johannesburg citing “airport-wide provide points”. The 8,000-mile flight is likely one of the airline’s longest.
British Airways flights between Johannesburg and London look like unaffected.
