airport

A MAJOR UK airport has now become the first to introduce robotic valet parking – which uses no human interaction at all.

But one catch could see certain travellers excluded from the service.

London Gatwick Airport has officially brought in a new Robotic Parking system, said to be designed with customer comfort in mind.

Officially announced two months ago, passengers have already begun to use the parking service from August, which sees drivers leave their vehicle at a private drop-off garage before heading to the terminal.

The “state-of-the-art” robot then takes over, gently hoisting the car from underneath its wheels and moving it to an access-restricted parking area.

One key difference from traditional airport parking is that customers are able to keep hold of their car keys throughout their trip.

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When a passenger returns from holiday, the system receives an alert that they have landed.

This means that when they arrive at the South Terminal car park, their vehicle should already be ready for collection.

However, there are some limitations, with 5 per cent of vehicle models not compatible with the new technology.

This includes popular models such as a Range Rover Sport Hybrid, Renault Trafic Van, as well as SUVs with roof boxes.

It also costs around £109 for a five-day stay (travellers are unable to use the service for shorter stays) and passengers are currently only able to drop off their vehicles on weekdays between 9am and 5pm.

Located at the South Terminal, passengers can reach the parking lot following the marked signs for Robotic Parking, once within the Long Stay car park entrance barriers.

Gatwick airport also said the area includes 24-hour security patrols, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) at the entrance and exit, perimeter fencing, floodlighting and no public access.

London Gatwick Airport is set to be hit with further travel disruption this month as two sets of strikes are planned for a total of nine days that ‘will inevitably disrupt services’

Travellers passing through Gatwick Airport could face further travel chaos as more than 200 workers are set to strike this month, threatening flight delays.

The UK’s second-largest airport, which handles more than 40 million passengers every year, was hit with air traffic control mayhem this week, with hundreds of flights cancelled and grounded. Yet there could be significantly more disruption at London Gatwick Airport later this month, as 220 workers are set to walk out in a dispute over pay.

The strikes are set to take place by Unite union members, who provide assisted travel at Gatwick, and are employed by the specialist firm Wilson James. There have been pay negotiations between the airport workers and Wilson James since May, but with rejected deals, the “industrial action will inevitably disrupt services throughout Gatwick”, Unite regional officer Ben Davis said.

Unite members involved in the dispute are set to walk out between Thursday, 17 September and Monday, 21 September, and from Wednesday, 23 September to Saturday, 26 September. As they provide special assistance for disabled and elderly passengers, delays are expected in boarding and disembarking for passengers who depend on their services, which could result in delays across short and long-haul flights to and from Gatwick, the union warned.

Unite previously rejected a 3.4 per cent two-year pay rise, in addition to a 0.6 per cent bonus and 0.5 per cent uplift in pensions. The union said it was “not enough to address years of low pay at the firm”, where some of the lowest-paid members earn £14.71 per hour, while struggling with the high cost of living within reach of Gatwick.

The union also noted that workloads have increased at Gatwick, with this year’s busiest summer since 2019. Unite regional officer Ben Davis said: “Unite has been trying to negotiate a better pay deal for our members for months, however Wilson James has failed to put forward an offer that is acceptable to workers.

“Industrial action will inevitably disrupt services throughout Gatwick but this is a direct result of Wilson James refusal to make a fair offer to our members. Strikes can be avoided but that requires the company making a significantly improved offer.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham further commented: “Wilson James is a highly profitable company which can more than afford to put forward a pay deal that reflects the hard work our members do.

“These workers are vital in the smooth running of the airport, doing a key role in assisting passengers on and off flights. Their jobs have become even more difficult as Gatwick has become busier.”

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “We are working with our assisted travel provider, Wilson James, to avoid any impacts and we expect to operate a normal flight schedule for our airlines and passengers on these dates. Of course, we hope Wilson James and their union can reach a resolution before then.”

The impending strikes come as Gatwick Airport faced severe disruption following air traffic control issues on Tuesday, 8 September, with hundreds of flights delayed or cancelled. The control provider, NATS, said there had been a technical glitch, and bosses admitted it had taken “longer than hoped” to resolve.

As a result of the air traffic control chaos, more than 1,700 flights were impacted on Tuesday, with 30.10 per cent of those cancelled or unable to fly, according to Cirium, the aviation analytics company. Meanwhile, 417 flights were cancelled or did not fly on Wednesday, 9 September, with cancellations continuing today (Thursday, 10 September).

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

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We’ve all been there – sitting in a hard plastic chair at the airport gate with a packet of crisps and a bottle of water that cost you an arm and a leg.

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Priority Pass members get access to over 1,900 airport lounges across the world. The lounges cover over 85% of the world’s top 100 airports, so you’re basically travelling like a First Class passenger on the cheap (before you reach the plane and turn right).

There’s complimentary food and drink across ALL lounges, which will already save you on having to fork out for an expensive airport meal.

Plus there’s comfy sofas, charging points and free Wi-Fi, making that wait before your flight all the more comfortable.

Some lounges even have showers, sleep pods, desks and quiet spaces – so if you want to squeeze in a nap after your early wake-up, no problem.

A standard membership usually costs £69 per year, but you can now bag 20% off and pay only £55 for the whole year.

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Members also get extra perks like access to Be Relax spa treatments, including massages, manicures and more at participating airports.

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A MAJOR UK airport has quietly increased its drop off fees.

London Luton Airport passengers must now pay £9 to drop off, rather than £7.

The time has been slightly extended, with the fee covering up to 12 minutes, rather than 10 minutes.

After 12 minutes, drivers are also charged an extra £1 per minute, meaning you could pay up to £27 if waiting the max 30 minutes.

The fee must be paid online or by phone by midnight the day after the drop off.

Many travellers have taken to social media outraged by the increase.

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One person said on Facebook: “Free in most European countries!”

Another added: “£7 was bad enough!”

A third person said: “Paid it this morning, spent three minutes in the drop off zone, crazy cost.”

Luton Airport last raised its drop off fee in late September 2025, meaning this is the second time in a year the airport has raised the fee.

The fee was raised by 40 per cent in 2025 from £5 for five minutes to £7 for 10 minutes.

The price hike was the first at the airport in five years.

Over the past year several airports have raised drop off fees, causing outrage among travellers.

Earlier this year, Stansted Airport raised its drop off fee from £7 to £10, for up to 15 minutes.

In 2025, Edinburgh Airport raised its fee to £6 for a 10-minute stay, with additional charges for longer stays.

Sun Travel has contacted Luton Airport for comment.

THE UK’s second biggest airport may face even more delays this month as workers are set to strike over pay.

This comes as thousands of planes were grounded yesterday following a nationwide technical glitch.

Around 220 staff members at London Gatwick Airport are set to strike later this month, following a dispute between Unite members and employer Wilson James.

The workers, who provide assisted travel, have been engaged in pay talks since May and previously rejected a two-year offer of a 3.4 per cent salary increase.

The union said it was “not enough to address years of low pay at the firm”.

As a result, Unite regional officer Ben Davis, said that “industrial action will inevitably disrupt services throughout Gatwick” as negotions continue.

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Strikes are expected to take place from September 17 to September 21.

Just two days later, another set of strikes will occur from September 23 to September 26.

This will mean passengers who rely on assistened travel will take longer to board and disembark, leading to flight delays across both short-haul and long-haul services to and from Gatwick.

Davis added: “Strikes can be avoided but that requires the company making a significantly improved offer.”

This comes as travellers have already faced extensive delays and cancellations following a major technical issue with the UK’s air traffic control provider yesterday.

The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) suffered an issue with its “flights processing system”, resulting in tens of thousands of passengers stranded in terminals and over 1,000 journeys cancelled.

Although the issue preventing departures was fixed yesterday evening, knock-on delays and cancellations – mainly affecting Heathrow Airport – continue to disrupt passengers today.

TRAVELLERS face another day of chaos across UK airports today following a major tech outage cancelling flights yesterday.

Thousands of passengers were hit by flight cancellations and delays yesterday due to an air traffic control issue emerging around 1pm.

People reported being stuck on planes on the tarmac for hours and many travellers are currently stranded abroad with new flights home only available next week.

NATS has now warned that delays are expected to continue as it tries to “clear a backlog of flights” – but here is all you need to know if you have been impacted.

My flight has been cancelled, what do I do?

Contact your airline immediately and ask to be rebooked onto the next available flight.

Airlines must provide you with this option. Unfortunately, in a situation like this where so many flights have been cancelled, it may be that they offer you a flight well into the next few days.

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You do not have to accept this. If you can find an alternative flight with a different airline that will get you to your destination sooner, you have the right to either have the airline book you onto this or book it yourself.

Use a credit card, keep all receipts and claim it back from your airline. In situations like this, the last thing you should do is simply get a refund if you have no alternative means of getting to your destination.

If you do this, your airline no longer has any duty of care and does not have to get you home.

Only request a refund if you are happy for the airline to no longer have any responsibility for your travel options. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

How do I contact my airline?

You will likely be contacted by your airline directly if your flight has been affected by the air traffic control meltdown.

If you are already at the airport or on your way there, the best thing to do is speak to someone on the ground.

Phones will be ringing off the hook right now so the check in desk or your airline help desk is your best bet.

Anyone who is at home and has not been provided with a satisfactory alternative flight or the option to a refund should either call the airline via the customer services number or make contact via the live chat option on the website.

Some airlines, like British Airways, will allow you to rebook within their airline app.

If the changes are complicated, however, phone or in-person is best.  – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

What if I have a holiday package booked?

If you have a holiday package booked, you have more protection than flight-only bookings.

This is because they are ATOL protected, which means your money is safeguarded by a a UK financial protection scheme (often needed for when holiday companies go bust).

If your flight is cancelled, your tour operator must offer an alternative flight or replacement holiday.

If neither work you, then you must be given a full refund – Kara Godfrey, Deputy Travel Editor

Can I get compensation?

No. Airlines are only required to give you compensation if the delay or cancellation is the airline’s fault, as in a technical failure on a plane or issues with crew.

In this situation, where ATC is the reason for the chaos, there is unfortunately no compensation due.

Check your insurance policy to see if you have any redress if you have incurred additional costs like missing a concert or unable to pick up car hire. You may be able to claim for that.

Generally for delays, if an airline looks after you or provides you with food and drink or hotels, you cannot claim for the same costs against your travel insurance. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

How do you claim compensation?

If your flight has been cancelled strictly as a result of yesterday’s incident, you will not be entitled to compensation.

This is because the situation is deemed to be outside of the airline’s control and falls under the category of extraordinary circumstances.

Airlines do, however, still have a duty of care to their passengers and anyone experiencing delays of between two to four hours will be entitled to food and drinks vouchers.

These are usually handed out according to the distance you are flying.

For example if your trip is short haul then you are entitled to vouchers once the delay reaches two hours.

The delay must be at least three hours for mid haul or four hours for long haul.

If you are stranded and need to stay in a hotel, this also falls under duty of care and the airline should assist you in this.

As mentioned above, if you end up paying for anything yourself, you must keep receipts so that you can claim this back. – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

Am I covered by travel insurance?

This is strictly down to what your insurance policy says. It really depends on the level of policy you paid for, so it’s worth checking the small print.

You’ll need to be covered for things like delay, travel disruption, cancellations and missed connections.

If you went for the cheaper option when booking your policy, it’s likely there may be some holes in your cover.

Always make sure you take out travel insurance and check the details before signing on the dotted line – instances like this are why it’s worth protecting yourself. – Caroline McGuire, Head of Travel (Digital)  

I missed an event can I get my money back?

It depends what you booked and how.

For a missed concert, theatre show or other event, check your travel insurance to see if it is covered because of the delay or cancellation – you may be able to claim.

The same applies for car hire or missed accommodation expenses but only if your travel insurance policy includes such disruption.

If you paid by credit card and the value is over £100 it may be worth calling your credit card provider and seeing if you can claim under Section 75 of the consumer credit act. – Lisa Minot, Head of Travel

What about if you’re supposed to be flying soon?

If you’re due to jet off in the coming days and have not yet been contacted by your airline, take this as a good sign.

The specific issue that resulted in yesterday’s chaos was fixed within four hours and many airports have said that they are operating as normal today.

Despite this quick fix, yesterday still saw over 1000 cancellations across UK airports which has had a dramatic knock on effect that could continue for days.

Keep a look out for any changes to your flight and act immediately if a cancellation arises.

If your flight is not cancelled, be warned that it could be busier than anticipated, with airlines struggling to find space for passengers who are trying to reach their destination after a cancellation.  – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor

A woman was left gobsmacked when she was taken for a ‘full body search’ at the airport after she set off the security scanners twice with her hand luggage. She was dumbfounded by the reason

Airport security is stressful enough without triggering a major alert. Between removing your belt and wrestling electronics out of your bag, it’s easy to feel flustered.

But one woman is warning travellers to avoid a simple pre-flight habit that got her pulled aside by security not once, but twice. George, a lawyer who posts on TikTok as @awomancalledgeorge, was travelling with just a carry-on when she became the subject of a “double security alert.”

After her bag was pulled from the scanner, she was surrounded by security staff. She explained: “The scanner seemed to have picked up traces of something that could be dangerous.” The subsequent swabs of her hands and bag also came back positive.

“It’s a double problem,” she said. “When you know you haven’t got anything, you still feel guilty. I’m a lawyer, and I was standing there thinking I know I haven’t done anything wrong, but you still feel guilty.”

The alert led to a full-body search, and security staff had to unpack and swab every single item in her bag.

George shared that she’d “never seen anything like it” when her “hand luggage bag got pulled,” and people appeared and were talking “really seriously” to her.

She recalled having to go off and have a “full body search” and they “had to unpack every single thing” in her bag. Staff “swabbed most of it”, before letting her go.

What caused the drama at airport security?

It turns out that what had set it off was “hand cream and body lotion”. George had a shower before heading to the airport and slathered herself in the really nice creams.

But she urged others to take the “life lesson” from her and not do the same thing. She explained: “It turns out the glycerin in hand cream and body lotion can trigger the security systems.

“Who knew? I certainly didn’t know. Having gone through that, I shaln’t be doing that again”.

What are swabs at the airport checking for?

Security swabs primarily test for trace chemical residues associated with explosives.

Staff wipe a small area of a passenger’s hands, bag, shoes, or electronics, and analyse the sample for microscopic particles. Because these chemicals can transfer from harmless everyday sources – like lotions, soaps, or certain fertilizers – a positive swab doesn’t automatically mean you’ve handled anything illegal.

Less commonly, depending on the country and situation, swabs can also be used to detect drug residue or other prohibited substances.

AN airport that was closed for almost three days after a volcanic eruption has finally reopened.

But hundreds of thousands of passengers are scrambling to get home with flights still being delayed or cancelled.

On Monday, Indonesia’s Transport Ministry reported on Monday that as many as 270,000 travellers were stranded with their flights “cancelled, delayed, or diverted” – including those at Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International Airport which has since reopened.

Now it’s believed as many as 370,000 passengers are said to have been affected by the disruption across the last three days, with 3,000 flights cancelled.

It started on Friday when there was an eruption on Anak Krakatau.

An ash cloud drifted into the city of Jakarta and the Lampung province, halting flights at its airports with seven being forced to close.

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The biggest airport to close was Jakarta’s Soekarno Hatta International which grounded flights from Sunday until early this morning.

The current FCDO advice reads: “Soekarno Hatta Airport and Halim Airport in Jakarta were temporarily closed due to the volcanic ash clouds from Mount Anak Krakatau on 5 September.

“Both airports have reopened, but there are continued flight disruptions and many flights are cancelled or delayed.”

For anyone due to travel, it advises to check with your airline or travel provider for up to date information on your flight status.

On Flightradar24, Soekarno Hatta Airport has had 9 per cent of its flights cancelled today with 20 per cent delayed.

Lots of travellers were told they wouldn’t be able to fly for a few more days, including a newlywed couple on a honeymoon in Bali.

Talking to Bernama, they asked: “What are we going to do here for another five days? We only prepared enough money for our honeymoon and [were supposed] to go home yesterday.

They continued: “We thought we would just sleep at the airport for a few hours and then take the morning flight home [on Monday]. We never thought we would end up being stuck here for days.”

Yesterday, another passenger told AFP how they had not heard any updates from the airline and were seeking out hotels only to find most of them have been fully booked.

Airlines like Qantas are offering anyone who booked to go to or from Jakarta before September 5 the chance for a free refund on travel up to September 11.

But its services are resuming as scheduled from today.

Indonesia’s Geological Agency has warned however that “the probability of further eruptions in the coming periods remains high”.

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

Jopsie Eccles says they were told to pay £170 or go to court

A mum has blasted the “ridiculous” £170 airport parking fine she received after a five-minute drop-off led to the threat of court. Josie Eccles had travelled to the airport with her husband, 33, to catch a flight to Malta with her mum and three-year-old son.

The 32-year-old claims her husband pulled into the drop-off zone at around 2pm, unloaded their luggage and said goodbye before heading off. But the couple later realised they had forgotten to pay the airport’s £5 drop-off charge within the required 24-hour period.

Josie says they accepted they would have to pay a penalty and even tried checking the airport’s payment portal for the charge – but no fine appeared. “My husband was there for under five minutes,” said Josie, a marketing consultant from Cheshire.

“A couple of days later, I was still in Malta and was speaking to my husband on the phone and asked if he had remembered to pay the charge. I was frustrated that both of us had forgotten to pay within the allocated window, but aware that these things happen and just accepted we would probably have a penalty to pay.

“My husband then checked the payment portal on the website where you usually pay the charge and entered the vehicle details, expecting to see a penalty fine, but nothing was there. I tried again a few days later, and still no charge appeared, so we thought we’d just wait and see if we got a letter in the post.”

But it wasn’t until almost two months later that Josie says she opened a letter from a debt collection firm. The letter claimed she had ignored previous correspondence and said the charge had risen to £170. Josie was given the option of paying the £170 in full or £42.50 over four months, while the letter warned the amount could increase further and potentially lead to court action.

She says she was stunned because she had never received the original parking charge notice. Josie said: “I was very confused, as it had been two months since the airport drop-off and I had received no correspondence at all so to receive a letter from a debt recovery company seemed rather extreme. At this point, I thought it must be a misunderstanding, and I would be able to resolve the issue by speaking with them.”

Josie claims she immediately tried to appeal the charge through Manchester Airport’s car parking operator, APCOA. But she says she received an automated response telling her that she had missed the appeal window and that the matter had already been passed to debt collectors.

She then called the debt recovery firm to explain what had happened. According to Josie, they told her that Manchester Airport had evidence that a letter had been sent to her on June 5. But when she asked whether it had been sent by tracked or recorded delivery, she was allegedly told it hadn’t.

Josie says this left her in an impossible position because the original letter contained the information she needed to pay the penalty. She said: “Not at any point did I try to get out of paying anything. I just wanted the opportunity to pay the initial fine, which would have been £60 if paid within 14 days.

“The only way I would know how to pay the penalty fine was by reading the instructions sent in the letter, so without the letter I had no chance of ever paying the charge before it was handed over to debt recovery. He said my options were to either pay the fine in full, which is £170, or I could seek independent legal advice and email in a dispute that they would look into it.”

In the meantime, Josie says she received two further letters threatening potential court action and warning that the amount could rise to up to £235. Josie claims she contacted the debt firm again and says a member of staff confirmed that her emails had been received but told her the company would not investigate disputes.

She says she was told her choices were to pay £170 or go to court, where the charge could potentially rise. She alleges she was then told that Manchester Airport would be responsible for taking any court action. Josie said: “I completed an online enquiry for Manchester Airport explaining I wanted to pay the £60 fine, detailed my communication with the debt company and reattached the dispute I had submitted to them with all the legal grounds.

“Within 10 seconds of submitting, I had received an AI response stating this had been handed over to debt recovery and I should liaise directly with them. I then forwarded that response along with my online enquiry submission to the complaints department, saying that was not an adequate response and I would like somebody to review the case so I can resolve this and pay the £60 fine.

“I have still not had any response or acknowledgement.”

Josie insists that she accepts responsibility for forgetting to pay the original £5 charge on 30 May but she believes the escalation is unfair because she claims she was never given the opportunity to respond to the original penalty.

She said: “I’m extremely frustrated. I hold my hands up; we forgot to pay the standard £5 charge within the next 24 hours, so a fine was expected, but to increase it to up to £235 was ridiculous. If I had been ignoring communication, it would maybe be justified, but I have responded to every bit of communication I have received, which surely shows I would have responded had I received the initial letter.

“I can afford to pay the fine; it’s not about financial difficulty. It’s about the principle of the system being set up to catch you out and the lack of reason they have. If the letter is so important, surely it would be sent tracked?

“Or at least they would try a few attempts before sending it over to debt collectors.”

She believes airports should introduce a free grace period for motorists who are only at the terminal for a few minutes. Josie added: “I’ve used Manchester Airport many times both before and after this encounter and always paid the drop-off charge on time.

“They’ll have a record of this on their system, which validates the fact I did not intentionally avoid paying. Sometimes people forget and these things happen. Other passengers could easily make the same mistake.

“It’s very easy to forget. There’s no option to pay at a machine or barrier while you’re there, so they are relying on people remembering to pay later on, which, whether you’re the person travelling through the airport or the person doing the drop-off, it’s easy to get distracted.

“I’m sure that’s why they removed the barriers, as they knew it would catch people out. The cars are logged using ANPR on their registration plates, so surely you should be able to pay on the same payment system even if outside the 24-hour window, with an additional penalty charge added.

“I think it’s ridiculous airports charge you for drop-off and pick-up. I think under 10 minutes should be free, but unfortunately all airports in the UK at least charge these days.”

An APCOA spokesperson said: “We have been in contact with the customer and offered the original charge of £60. The customer has since made payment of the £60, and the matter is now resolved.”

Manchester Airport has been contacted for comment.

Jakarta: Indonesia halted operations at its main international airport outside Jakarta on Sunday after ash spewed from the Anak Krakatoa volcano more than 150 kilometres away, impacting thousands of passengers. Mount Anak Krakatoa erupted on Saturday, producing a fountain of lava and booming sounds that could be heard up to 700 kilometres (435 miles) away, the geology agency said in a statement. Two new eruptions were recorded on Sunday, the volcanology agency warned.

Ash from the volcano was detected in the airspace surrounding Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, prompting authorities to suspend operations from 01:30 am Sunday (Saturday 1830 GMT). “The latest paper test…showed positive results indicating the spread of volcanic ash in the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport area, consequently the airport closure was extended until Sunday at 09:30 am (0230 GMT),” the transport ministry said in a statement Sunday.

The suspension was later extended by four hours “due to increased eruptive activity”, the airport said on social media. More than 22,000 passengers have been impacted by the suspension, the transportation ministry said, adding that 209 flights were affected, in particular to and from Singapore. Other affected international routes included Doha, Sydney, and Kuala Lumpur. At least 16 domestic flights to Bali were also cancelled, local airport authorities said.

Anak Krakatoa, which means Child of Krakatoa, sits in a strait that separates the islands of Java and Sumatra. Ships passing through the strait should increase vigilance for possible disruption to navigation safety due to volcanic activities and are prohibited to approach within the exclusion zone of a 3-kilometre radius from the volcano, local port authorities said in a statement. The volcano has been sporadically active since it emerged from the sea at the beginning of last century in the caldera formed after the 1883 eruption of Mount Krakatoa. That disaster was one of the deadliest and most destructive in history, with an estimated 35,000 people killed.

Extended Closure and Heightened Alert

Jakarta’s main airport and three others have extended their closures to 6:00 pm on Monday, affecting tens of thousands of passengers. Eight airports halted operations over the weekend, disrupting hundreds of flights and leaving more than 170,000 passengers stranded, the transport ministry reported. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, in particular, extended its closure from Monday morning to 6:00 pm (1100 GMT), according to airport operator Angkasa Pura.

“In connection with the increasing eruption activity of Mount Anak Krakatau, flight operations at several airports have been suspended; passengers are advised to regularly monitor their flight status with the respective airlines,” the operator stated. The probability of an eruption remains high until Monday morning, the country’s geology agency noted, highlighting threats from incandescent rocks and heavy ashfall, while lava flows present potential hazards if the eruptions persist.

A 2018 tsunami triggered by a collapse of parts of Anak Krakatoa resulted in 429 fatalities and thousands displaced. Indonesia, a Southeast Asian archipelago nation, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity.

The cause of the crash is being investigated.

A cargo plane for the retail company Amazon has crashed in the United States after overrunning its runway while landing at Miami International Airport, disrupting one of the country’s busiest airports.

In a post on social media, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a Boeing 767-300 aircraft overran the runway at 2pm ET (6pm GMT) upon arriving from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said “multiple vehicles” were struck by the plane, which caught on fire after it crashed. The department said it was working to extinguish the blaze and is assessing the status of people affected by the crash.

It’s not clear how many crew members or passengers were on board the plane. No details regarding potential injuries or fatalities were provided.

An Amazon spokesperson said the plane was operated by 21 Air and experienced “an incident” while attempting to land.

“We’re working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said. “Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, wellbeing, and care of everyone involved. We’re doing everything we can to support those affected.”

Videos circulating online show black smoke billowing from the scene near the runway. Early reports indicated that the aircraft veered off the runway and crossed a road near the airport.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigates major transportation-related accidents, confirmed that it was aware of the crash and would provide additional updates as more information became available.

US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said his agency had issued a full ground stop in Miami after the incident, urging travellers to anticipate “significant delays”.

The cause of the incident is unknown. The FAA said it is investigating.

A handful of aviation photographers got a suprise eyeful of a very sleek and large aircraft silhouette on Thursday night at Long Beach Airport. One of them was Ricky Schol, who saw the mysterious airframe emerge from a hangar, prompting a double take. It was the first time in his 16 years of aviation photography at the historic airport he’d ever seen anything like it.

“I was driving home past my local airport Thursday evening here in Southern California when I saw a bright light coming from a hangar I haven’t seen open in a long time, so I doubled back to check it out,” Schol told us. “I was blown away when I pulled over and saw the future in front of my eyes. I had no clue what I was looking at. I jumped out of my vehicle and started taking pictures immediately.”

“At first glance I thought it was an F-117 Nighthawk when driving by,” said Schol, a plumber by trade. “That’s why I doubled back to see. And to my surprise I saw something I’ve never seen before, having no cockpit. It left me with a very curious feeling.”

Schol said he did some asking around and learned more details. He would soon learn that the mysterious aircraft design was the RAVN X, an aircraft meant to launch payloads into space, made by Aevum Aerospace of Huntsville, Alabama. Schol was kind enough to share some of the photos he took of the aircraft, which he said he saw from about 100 feet in the distance. You can find his work on Instagram at @aggressoraviation_.

As you can see from the images below, the aircraft bears the FAA N Number N567RX, which has been reserved by Aevum to an address at the airport, but it appears to be a mockup — one we have likely seen before.

A mockup of the drone was introduced online with great fanfare in 2021 and described at the time by company CEO Jay Skylus as the “mothership” for a two-stage rocket able to carry a payload of just over 1,000 pounds. 

From our story when the RAVN X was unveiled: “The twin-engine Ravn X drone — described by the company as the first stage of the system — reportedly weighs 55,000 pounds, is 80 feet long, and has a wingspan of 60 feet — roughly the size of an A-5 Vigilante. The sleek drone… has seemingly been tailored for speed.” 

During the mockup roll-out, the company described what we noted back then was a “very ambitious, if not almost bizarre timeline” for getting Ravn X into the air. The plan was to start with “vehicle-level testing” to obtain the required airworthiness certification and launch licensing for operations, a process that should take 18 months, Skylus claimed. From there, Aevum planned to secure airworthiness certification for the first-stage drone from the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Following that, the next step was to commence orbital launch tests from Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, Florida, by late 2021. 

Aevum Ravn X Autonomous Launch Vehicle Rollout

It is unclear whether AEVUM achieved any of its goals. There are no details on the company website and the most recent information about RAVN X is from Gunter’s Space Page, a website that tracks launches.

“In December 2020 Aevum rolled out a mock-up of the Ravn-X carrier plane (although claimed to be a real prototype), but no further activities have been noticed so far,” noted Gunter’s Space Page. “It is doubtful, that any real hardware has been produced so far. By August 2024, all activities seem to have stopped.”

We reached out to Skylus and Aevum for more details.

Given that RAVN X has all but disappeared from public notice, Schol and a few other photographers at the airport caught a rare glimpse.

“I was there from the time they pulled it out to the time they pulled it in,” he told us. “They lined it up on the runway. It moved a little bit, but not much.”

Schol said he didn’t hear the engines or see any exhaust.

“I don’t know exactly what they were testing or trying to accomplish that night,” he proffered.

Mockups can be modified for limited ground tests and other important work, which could be the case here. Regardless, RAVN X does appear to be still alive as a program.

If we find out any details, we will pass them along.

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

When I recently flew with Jet2, I was gobsmacked to be stopped for something that I didn’t realise wasn’t allowed, and I ended up on the floor of Manchester Airport…

Holiday mode was fully activated. I was ready for sunshine, a cold drink, and a smooth flight to Rhodes. Instead, my trip kicked off with an embarrassing baggage showdown at the Jet2 check-in desk.

My allowance included a 22kg checked bag, a 10kg cabin bag, and a personal item. For ten years, I’ve flown with Jet2 and mixed and matched those weights without a hitch. As long as my total luggage – a suitcase, rucksack and cross-body bag – was under 32kg, it was never an issue. Until this time.

I was told that I’d have to pay £45 for my suitcase because it was 26.6kg – even though my rucksack only weighed 4kg and I was still under my total 32kg allowance. Employees demanded that I take things out of my case and put them into my rucksack or pay extra.

Several times, I explained there was no room, and we were at an impasse, as there was no way I was giving them more money when my luggage allowance in total was underweight.

A manager eventually told me I could unpack my things into a spare bag if I had one, which isn’t in Jet2’s policy as an option. It left me humiliated, sifting through bikinis, knickers, and outfits on the floor of Manchester Airport, which definitely isn’t ideal.

A spokesperson from Manchester Airport said Jet2 is usually “one of the most reasonable airlines” and assumed I’d fallen victim to a mistake. He was probably right, considering that on our return flight from Rhodes, with the exact same weight in our cases, the staff didn’t bat an eyelid. They just printed our passes and waved us through. It turns out I’m not the only one at the mercy of check-in desk moods. Over on TikTok, passengers have shared similar stories, with one user hitting the nail on the head: “Must just be luck of the draw whether you get someone having a good or bad day.” When contacted, Jet2 doubled down on their policy, stating: “Hold baggage and hand luggage allowances are separate and cannot be combined.” They described forcing me to repack as a “flexible solution.” Personally, I think the most flexible solution would have been letting my underweight luggage go into the hold as it always had. It’s all going on the same plane, after all. But no, I was left to struggle my way through to the boarding gate with a backpack, my Hello Kitty bag, and a cross-body, which was actually a pain because I was unable to assist my mum with any of her belongings. How to avoid this issue After being humiliated like that, I’d definitely stick strictly to the weight limits and not rely on the fact that you’ll get nice, understanding staff members. Thankfully, most of the Jet2 staff I’ve come across in the past have been lovely, I just got unlucky this time, but if I chose to fly with them again, I wouldn’t be relying on ‘common sense’ to prevail any longer. As one clever TikToker pointed out, a £5 digital luggage scale from Amazon can be a total lifesaver. They are spot-on and remove all the guesswork. In the future, I’ll definitely be making sure that my luggage is exactly on the allowance, or is slightly less, because I don’t want to go through that again. So, learn from my mistake and weigh your case! And do not make any assumptions that ‘it’ll be fine,’ because I thought that when my rucksack weighed significantly less, and all it got me was hot, sweaty, annoyed, and on the floor of the airport!

ALL planes leaving Gatwick Airport have been grounded causing chaos for passengers.

A Boeing 787 aircraft was reportedly stuck on the runway and the technical issue is currently being investigated, it is understood.

Staff worked to resume flights as quickly as possible after the runway closed at 1.40pm today.

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “Due to a technical issue with a departing aircraft, our runway is currently closed.

“Our teams are working to move the aircraft and resume operations as quickly as possible. As always, safety and security is our number one priority.”

Airport officials have informed customers to still travel to the airport on time for their flights.

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The Sun understands the plane was a flight to New York which was due to take off just after 1pm.

It appeared to be on the runway surrounded by several fire engines but has now been cleared.

One passenger returning from the Isle of Man said on X: “I’m stuck on a plane returning from the IOM to Gatwick after jawbone surgery yesterday.. exhausted.

“The plane has diverted to Luton…I’d rather get out and catch a train back to London!”

The grounded plane caused chaos with many EasyJet flights being reportedly sent to other airports.

Another added: “Gatwick Airport any idea what is happening? I am stuck on your runway with no information.”

It comes after a water outage at the airport last month where passengers were left without running water.

The airport was left unable to flush toilets, wash their hands and refill bottles for several hours.

The outage was caused by a burst water main, which has affected the supply to the airport.

One source told The Sun at the time: “There were no announcements, they just started turning away everyone at the restaurants.

“Water fountains weren’t operational either. People are treating the toilets like portaloos at a festival, its going to be a biohazard soon.”

The water in the area is covered by SES Water, which covers parts of Surrey, Kent and London.

The airport chaos came just weeks after a similar water outage left the airport with no running water, toilets or bars.

Passengers called it “disgraceful” with images showing vending machines with no water left and dirty toilets.

AN airport in the UK has been forced to close AGAIN just days after strike action resulted in cancelled flights.

Strikes have been ongoing throughout the last few weeks causing some passengers to be rerouted by over 100 miles.

And Norwich Airport will close again for three parts of today with flights already cancelled and delayed.

The air traffic closures are from 6am to 2pm, then 4pm to 4.45pm, and finally from 6.45pm to 7.30pm.

Three KLM flights have been cancelled so far, two of which were departing Norwich Airport this morning.

The 9am KLM flight from Amsterdam to Norwich has also been cancelled.

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However the 2.05pm flight is currently delayed to depart at 2.45pm.

Another flight set to depart Norwich at 5pm for Amsterdam remains on the schedule.

The TUI flight to Rhodes is set to leave at 2.05pm, rather than its scheduled time of 12:35pm.

On the website, it reads: “Due to Air Traffic Control staff sickness and ongoing industrial action which limits the flexibility to provide additional staff cover, Norwich Airport will be closed to air traffic on Thursday 3 September during the following periods: 0600 to 1400, 1600 to 1645  and 1845 to 1945.

“Airlines have been informed of the closures. Passengers should check with their airline for the latest information about their flight before travelling to the airport.

“We apologise to passengers for the inconvenience this may cause.”

Last month, Norwich Airport was forced to close for an entire day and suspend all of its flights.

The 24-hour-strike was held by Prospect union as part of an ongoing dispute over pay, terms and conditions.

Some passengers were forced to divert their journey by 101 miles as they departed from Southend Airport in Essex rather than Norwich.

Mérida, September 2, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar International Airport, located in Maiquetía, La Guaira State, officially resumed commercial flight operations on Tuesday through newly constructed temporary terminals.

Air connections resumed more than two months after a powerful double earthquake struck central and coastal Venezuela on June 24, causing severe structural damage to the Simón Bolívar Airport, including fractured runways.

The initial phase of renewed operations relies on four modular, temporary terminals erected in the airport’s external parking areas. Spanning more than 10,000 square meters, the temporary structures house fully functional services for ticketing, baggage drop and retrieval, security checkpoints and migration control.

Venezuelan authorities have also set up shuttle buses to take passengers from the modular gates to the aircraft on the tarmac. They have also issued operational guidelines for passengers and organized a security deployment in the airport grounds and surrounding areas.

Before official operations began, national aviation authorities executed four operational simulations to test passenger circulation routes, security protocols, luggage handling, and overall system readiness.

During an official inspection, Minister of Transportation Francisco Garcés outlined the operational milestones, technical parameters, and long-term recovery timeline for the nation’s main aviation hub.

“There is full operationality from these temporary terminals, with capacity to accommodate 720 departing and 496 arriving passengers in the international area, and 480 and 472, respectively, in the domestic sector,” Garcés stated during a media briefing. “We have made a strong effort to maintain rigorous international standards for user comfort and safety, completing this complex logistical solution in record time.”

Garcés explained that the current facilities restore approximately 25 percent of the airport’s pre-earthquake operational capacity, with projections of expanding to 40 percent within the next two months and 60 percent by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, engineering teams continue comprehensive structural repairs on the main permanent terminals, with full reconstruction scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.

On September 1, the opening day of the temporary facilities featured eight scheduled flights split equally between domestic and international routes, with the inaugural flight departing to Valera, Trujillo State.

Air carriers currently operating or scheduling their immediate return to Maiquetía include national lines Conviasa, Laser Airlines, Estelar, Avior and Venezolana, alongside international operators such as American Airlines, Iberia, and Copa Airlines.

Throughout the two-month shutdown following the June 24 seismic events, national and international air transit was diverted through smaller, regional airports across the country, including Barcelona (Anzoátegui State), Valencia (Carabobo State), and Maracaibo (Zulia State).

Alongside the reopening of Venezuela’s main air hub, the acting Delcy Rodríguez government has continued to address housing rehabilitation and structural reconstruction in damaged urban centers.

In La Guaira State, Rodríguez oversaw the formal handover of 210 fully repaired apartments in the Ana Victoria community. The rehabilitation works under the Plan Venezuela Renace allowed displaced families to return to their homes after two months in temporary shelters.

Additional structural works in La Guaira include “tetra-houses” in Catia La Mar and public infrastructure reconstruction near the El Trébol highway interchange.

Concurrently, Rodríguez announced the delivery of direct financial assistance and low-interest loans to 104 condominium boards and 1,216 individual housing units in the Chacao and Altamira areas of Eastern Caracas.

“We have begun an inspection process; I know it may take some time, but it is important because we are in a phase of changing the seismic resistance standards for construction,” she said.

Disbursed through joint public and private banking channels, individual loans can be up to US $5,000, while funding for common area repairs can reach $20,000.

These funds enable residents and homeowner associations to address structural issues on buildings categorized under yellow and red risk tags, ensuring compliance with updated seismic resistance construction standards.

Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.

AN AIRLINE has cancelled all of flights from a popular UK airport until further notice.

IndiGo has now stopped its flights from Manchester Airport to Delhi and Mumbai.

The suspension, originally announced back in June, is due to rising costs and airspace restrictions.

But from yesterday (August 31), the airline is “temporarily discontinuing” the flights, citing closed airspaces and higher costs.

There is currently no date of when the flights could return.

One of the six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft used for the route will be returned to Norse Atlantic Airways.

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IndiGo introduced its first direct flights from Manchester in July last year, with a non-stop route to Mumbai.

In November, the airline then introduced the route to Delhi.

At peak, the two routes would operate nine times a week.

With the removal of flights from Manchester, if you want to fly with IndiGo, you will now need to go to either London Heathrow or London Gatwick.

Abhijit Dasgupta, Senior Vice President – Network Planning & Revenue Management, IndiGo, said: “We inducted these wide-body aircraft on a short-term basis to fast-track our connectivity to high potential long-haul destinations such as Manchester, and witnessed very encouraging demand response.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that longer flying times due to airspace constraints, coupled with dramatically escalating cost, has compelled us to take the decision to temporarily discontinue our India – Manchester services.

“We would like to thank our customers, trade partners in India and in the UK, and Manchester Airport for their amazing support.

“The response and support for these services have reinforced our belief in the opportunity for IndiGo’s long-haul ambitions, and this discontinuation is temporary in nature.

“We look forward to serving this route again at the earliest viable opportunity and are exploring innovative solutions to continuing our collaboration with Norse Atlantic Airways.”

THERE’S nothing worse than a 3am alarm clock before a long flight – which is where airport hotels come in.

I stayed at the Holiday Inn at London Gatwick Airport. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is the hotel like?

A very comfortable, convenient modern hotel for those wanting to grab more sleep before a flight.

There’s a shuttle bus running every 15 to 20 minutes most of the day and every hour from midnight to 3am, providing a direct link to check terminals.

What are the rooms like?

Clean, modern rooms with more facilities than you’d expect for an overnight stay.

There’s tea and coffee, free water, a mini bar and work desk with lamp.

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The iron will ensure you’re presentable for any flight and there are also plenty of plug sockets and USB points. Room service is 24/7 too.

It took the sting out of our 6am flight and we managed to grab a few extra hours’ sleep before heading off on our trip feeling rested.

Book through Holiday Extras and with their Flextras policy, if you need to cancel or amend, you can without charge.

One night’s stay in a standard room at the Holiday Inn Gatwick is from £121 in total.

Or for one night plus four days Maple Meet & Greet parking, prices start from £244 in total. See holidayextras.com.

What is there to eat and drink there?

Great for a quick dinner before heading off for an early night, there’s a buzzy restaurant and bar.

The menu features comfort food from burgers (£18.50) and stuffed flatbreads (£12) to curries, steaks and salads.

Food arrived quickly and service was efficient and friendly. Breakfast served from 6am.

What else is there?

For those looking to drive, Holiday Extras can package up a stay at the hotel with a range of parking options from longstay to Meet and Greet.

Is it family friendly?

The hotel has connecting rooms, cribs on request and kids can eat free making this a family friendly hotel.

Is there access for guests with disabilities?

Guests can find accessible bathrooms equipped with grab bars, tall toilets, handrails, and a clear turning space for wheelchair users.

As well as easy access for wheelchairs, there are also conveniently located door locks.

Families should be aware of some important rules before they travel

Heathrow has issued a summer travel update telling families they can now benefit from a major change to Britain’s airport border controls.

The airport said: “Get ready for easier arrivals for families. Children aged 8 and 9 will now be able to use the eGates. They will need to have an eligible passport and be travelling with an adult”. The change could prove a welcome boost for parents returning to Britain from their summer holidays – potentially cutting the time they spend queuing at passport control.

Children aged eight and nine can use UK eGates, bringing them into line with older children who are already eligible to use the automated border gates.

But there is an important catch. The youngsters must have an eligible passport, be travelling with an adult and, under the Government’s rules, be at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall.

The change came into force on July 8, just as the summer holiday travel season was getting into full swing. And the Government estimates that up to 1.5 million more children could become eligible to use eGates over the next year.

For parents facing the prospect of tired youngsters after a long flight, the prospect of avoiding a lengthy passport-control queue could be particularly welcome. Heathrow has urged passengers travelling with younger children to check airport signage or speak to staff if they are unsure which lane they should use.

What parents need to know

The expanded eGate access applies to eight and nine-year-olds who meet the requirements.

They must:

• Be aged eight or nine
• Be at least 120cm tall
• Have an eligible passport
• Be travelling with an adult

The Government says the change covers more than 290 eGates across the UK and at so-called juxtaposed ports, where British border checks are carried out in Europe. Millions of passengers already use eGates each year.

The Government says using one typically takes only a few minutes – and increasing the number of people who can use them should also help reduce queues for passengers who still need to go through staffed passport control.

Major change for families

The move was announced by the Home Office in May as part of a wider programme to transform the UK’s border system. Migration and Citizenship Minister Mike Tapp said: “Travel with young children can be stressful for parents.”

He said expanding eGate access would allow more families to have a “swifter and smoother journey home” while keeping Britain’s borders secure.

Border Force Director General Phil Douglas said eGates were an “essential part” of keeping the border secure.

He said the expansion would deliver safe and smooth journeys while freeing officers to concentrate on intercepting people who pose a threat to the UK.

Karen Dee, chief executive of AirportsUK, welcomed the change, saying it would give more families the opportunity to use the technology and could reduce waiting times.

Part of wider border overhaul

The change comes alongside the Government’s wider push to modernise Britain’s borders. The Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme has also been introduced for eligible travellers, with almost 25 million ETAs issued, according to Government figures.

The longer-term ambition is for a more “contactless” border, with facial comparison technology being used to verify travellers’ identities.

Aug. 29 (UPI) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Friday said he wants to rename Nashville International Airport in honor of Dolly Parton.

Lee said he wants to create a lasting tribute to the “indelible legacy” of the country music legend, who died on Tuesday at the age of 80.

“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” Lee said in a statement. “From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her.

“At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”

Lee said Parton’s team was “touched by the idea.” The 11-time Grammy winner had lived in Nashville since the 60s.

The proposal will be discussed by the Metro Nashville Airport Authority at its next meeting on Sept. 17.

Parton died after “bravely facing a brief battle with cancer,” her publicist said. Her career spanned more than six decades.

Alongside her Grammy Awards, she earned three Emmy Awards, an honorary Academy Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Her many hits included “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” which was famously covered by Whitney Houston.

TENNESSEE’S governor Bill Lee announced on Friday that Nashville International Airport will be no more – as the state looks for a new name in tribute to late icon Dolly Parton.

It comes just three days after the superstar’s death at 80 with Dolly Parton fans begging lawmakers to rename a major hub after the country icon.

The movement has also received support from lawmakers.

The petition to rename the Nashville International Airport after Parton gained nearly 130,000 signatures.

“We request that the airport’s name be changed to Dolly Parton International Airport to honor an icon who has given so much to our state and to the world,” the petition on Change.com read.

“Sign the petition to make this change a reality. We could all be Departin’ from Parton!!”

The petition had originally started in January 2025, but has gained 80,000 signatures since Parton died on Tuesday.

“Dolly deserves to be remembered and celebrated,” the updated petition reads.

“What a wonderful way to share her light and magic across Tennessee and the world.”

It called on Governor Bill Lee and state Representatives Todd Warner, Bob Freeman, and Fred Atchley, to make the change.

Warner pledged his support for the measure.

“Yes I will definitely introduce legislation to rename the BNA airport Dolly Parton International Airport!” he wrote.

Sheryl Crow also joined in on the calls to rename the airport.

During an Instagram Live with Katie Couric, she said, “Yes! I think we should,” and joked that she didn’t know what Nashville’s call sign BNA meant.

Governor Lee didn’t take long to act, announcing his intention to rename Nashville Airport on Friday afternoon.

“Dolly Parton’s extraordinary life is forever woven into the fabric of our state,” he said.

“From her rural mountain home in East Tennessee to global stages, Dolly carried the Volunteer Spirit with her.

“At a place where Tennessee welcomes the world, it is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness.”

The exact new name of the airport remains unclear – as is the official date the change will happen.

A meeting is currently scheduled for September 17 to discuss.

The country music icon passed away in a Nashville hospital after a brief battle with cancer.

“BNA is the front door to Music City, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the very best of who we are as a community,” said Doug Kreulen, president and CEO, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority.

“Dolly’s remarkable legacy reminds us that what makes Nashville special is our ability to welcome people from every walk of life.

“She understood that dignity, kindness and opportunity should never be defined by where you come from or your socioeconomic status.

“At BNA, we share that commitment. Whether you are boarding a private aircraft or taking your first flight, you deserve to be welcomed, respected and served with the same level of care. That spirit is what defines BNA and it is a fitting reflection of the values Dolly shared with Tennessee and the world.”