busiest

THE price for passenger drop-offs at London’s second busiest airport has jumped 40 percent.

That’s a £3 increase from previous charge of £7 and will apply to all drivers entering the drop off zone, excluding Blue Badge holders.

From today London Gatwick will have the highest drop-off fees in the country thanks to the new £10 charge.

The price has steadily increased over the years since it was first introduced in 2021 and was only £5.

It jumped to £6 in 2024 before being increased to £7 just a year later in May 2025.

“Poor old passengers and drivers are getting another blow to the pocket,” complained travel writer Andy Mossack in an interview with BBC Radio Surrey.

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“It is disgraceful.”

London Gatwick, which is the busiest single runway airport in Europe, said it was “not a decision they took lightly”.

However, it cited reasons such as the “doubling of business rates” as one of the reasons for the increase in cost.

A spokesperson for Gatwick suggested passengers could use the free shuttle bus if they are dropped of in the long stay car park.

They added: “We also have excellent public transport connectivity at the airport, with passengers able to connect directly with more than 120 train stations.

“Many local bus routes serve the airport 24  hours a day, seven days a week.”

Drop off fees have also increased at London Heathrow with its drop off fee increasing from £6 to £7 on January 1.

It is also introducing a strict 10-minute drop off time, with drivers charged £80 if they go over.

And London City, the last of the London airports to allow free drop offs, will be introducing a new charge in 2026 as well.

HUNDREDS of flights at a major European airport have been cancelled due to snow and freezing temperatures.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, in the Netherlands, is a major hub for Brits both travelling to Europe and connecting to long-haul flights.

And the airport has cancelled 450 flights today due to the weather conditions.

The Dutch news agency ANP also warned that this number was expected to rise throughout the day.

Hundreds of Brits are being affected by the cancellations as well, with routes to and from the UK also cancelled.

This includes the following departures from Schiphol:

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• 7:10am KLM flight to London City
• 7:20am KLM flight to London Heathrow
• 7:45am easyJet flight to London Stansted
• 8:05am British Airways flight to London City
• 9am easyJet flight to London Gatwick
• 9:25am easyJet flight to London Luton
• 9:30am KLM flight to London City
• 9:50am easyJet flight to Manchester
• 10:15am British Airways flight to London Heathrow
• 10:20am KLM flight to London Heathrow
• 10:30am easyJet flight to Bristol
• 12:30pm KLM flight to Manchester
• 12:35pm KLM flight to Birmingham
• 1:30pm KLM flight to London Heathrow
• 2:10pm British Airways flight to London Heathrow
• 3:45pm KLM flight to London Heathrow
• 4:20pm British Airways flight to London City
• 6:30pm British Airways flight to London Heathrow
• 8:35pm KLM flight to London Heathrow

Due to the cancellations of flights to the UK, this means most flights from the UK to Amsterdam have been cancelled or are majorly delayed this morning.

And with short-haul aircraft carrying between 150-200 passengers, it means thousands of Brits will be affected.

KLM, the Dutch flag carrier, is worst affected by the cancellations.

They said in a statement online: “Due to ongoing winter weather, air traffic at Schiphol is disrupted.

“Since last Friday, KLM has unfortunately had to cancel hundreds of flights to and from Schiphol.

“The winter conditions are expected to continue in the coming days.”

The airline has already cancelled 300 flights and said this number is expected to rise.

Brits are urged to contact their airline before travelling to see if their flight is still going ahead.

If it is cancelled, airlines must rebook you on the next available flight, even if it is with another airline.

If you accept a refund from the airline, they no longer have a duty of care when it comes to alternative flights or hotels.

And due to weather conditions being ‘out of airline control,’ you also won’t be able to claim compensation for any delays.

Schiphol Airport already cancelled nearly 300 flights yesterday as well.

And flights were cancelled across Greece over the weekend after the airspace was forced to close.

The closure was due to unspecified issues affecting radio frequencies, resulting in chaos across the country.

THE busiest railway in Britain is temporarily shutting down for demolition in a matter of hours.

This isn’t good news for anyone who was planning to travel for New Year’s Day, though the project was far from a snap decision.

In fact, engineers have spent 12 months preparing and perfecting the enormous steel structure of a new bridge set to carry trains on the West Coast Main Line over the M6.

The previous bridge in place that’s being demolished – Clifton Bridge – is now nearly 60 years old and can only carry one train at a time due to weight restrictions.

Replacing this with a brand-new bridge will smooth out services and prevent delays – beneficial to safety as well as customer satisfaction.

The new bridge will be installed by Network Rail in partnership with Skanska during a two-week period at the beginning of 2026.

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New Year misery for millions as UK’s busiest train station shuts for a WEEK

As a result the M6 will be shutting down for two consecutive weekends, including:

• 8pm on Friday January 2 and 5am on Monday January 5 2026
• 8pm on Friday January 9 and 5am Monday January 12 2026

During this time frame, the motorway will close in both directions between junction 39 at Shap and junction 40 near Penrith as well.

Further to the weekend closures, parts of the West Coast Main Line won’t be operating in the North West, so it’s necessary to check your upcoming travels:

• January 1-4 2026, the line will be closed through Preston, between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and Carlisle to Dumfries and Lockerbie
• January 5-6 2026, the line through Preston will be open. The railway between Oxenholme and Carlisle, and Carlisle to Dumfries and Lockerbie, will remain closed for work.
• January 7-14 2026, the line north of Carlisle will be open. The railway between Oxenholme and Carlisle will be closed as the work to replace Clifton bridge continues until the early hours of 15 January.

Speaking on the importance of the project Network Rail’s project manager William Brandon says: “This is a vital project which will improve journeys for passengers for decades to come. 

“While we close the railway to replace the M6 bridge we’ll also be renewing more than 80 kilometres of overhead lines and continuing our major modernisation of signalling systems.

“We appreciate passengers’ patience while this work is completed, and I would urge anyone planning to travel in this period to check National Rail Enquiries in advance.”

RAIL passengers can expect travel chaos as the UK’s busiest train station closes until the new year.

Commuters will have to take alternative routes as a number of services are impacted by the closure.

With less people commuting to and from work, the festive period has become a popular time for rail companies planning major engineering works.

However, closures at this time of year still cause a fair amount of bother for those that are still forced to rely on these services.

From those working through the festivities to people planning a visit to friends and family, there are still a lot of passengers hoping to take their train as normal.

However, anyone planning to travel through Liverpool Street Station between now and the new year will want to rethink their route.

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Planned works

Network Rail has revealed Liverpool Street will remain closed until Friday, January 2.

The closure will impact services like the Weaver line and Stansted Express, as well as routes operated by Greater Anglia and c2c.

Liverpool Street previously shut for eight days between Christmas and the New Year in 2024.

According to London transport expert IanVisits, the engineering works being carried out at the UK’s busiest train station will strengthen the Bishopsgate tunnel.

The station itself will see panelling replaced above the concourse over platforms 1-10.

And the drainage system at Liverpool Street will also be improved as part of the works.

Greater Anglia lines, including the Stansted Express as well as Great Eastern and West Anglia mainline services will be rerouted as a result of the closure.

From now until January 2, the routes will run from Stratford.

Meanwhile, c2c services will run from London Fenchurch Street via West Ham.

And Weaver line trains will run from London Fields to Chingford, Enfield Town, and Cheshunt.

London Underground impact

Underground services operating from Liverpool Street will also be affected by the closure.

The Elizabeth Line will have no service between Liverpool Street and Stratford from December 27 to January 1.

Meanwhile, the Central Line will still run between Liverpool Street and Stratford, but a ticket acceptance arrangement will be in place.

This means you can use your ticket on the Central Line to get between the two stations.

And other parts of the Tube network, including the Circle, Hammersmith & City, and Victoria lines, will operate normally with some closures.

Tube passengers are advised to check the TfL Journey Planner for specific details. 

I visited Disneyland last weekend expecting huge crowds, busy restaurants and monster ride wait times. But the day was quite enjoyable thanks in part to Disneyland’s Lightning Lane Pass.

I commented to some employees throughout the day, “I thought this would be worse.”

Almost unanimously, each had the same answer: The real rush was yet to come.

Yes, Disneyland’s busiest time is upon us, from Saturday until Jan. 3.

That’s when the cost of a single-day adult park-hopper pass, which allows a patron to visit Disneyland and adjacent California Adventure Park, soars to $314 (buy a week later, prices will drop by $50.)

Many Disney experts and influencers advise you to avoid the resort during this time.

But what if you’ve already bought tickets? What if out-of-town family is desperate to visit? What if this is the only free time to take the kids?

Fortunately, Traver, known as the SoCal Disney Dad to his 74,000 YouTube subscribers, spoke with me Friday morning and offered tips on how to enjoy a magical time at the busiest place on Earth.

Wake up early

Traver explained to me that preparing for the holiday rush is not all too dissimilar from spring break.

One essential tip is to arrive at Disneyland before the park’s opening at 8 a.m.

Security checks begin as early as 7 a.m. and the gate, which opens around 7:20 to 7:30, allowing patrons to line up for the rope drop.

“For people interested in getting on the most popular rides, this is how you cut down on wait times,” Traver said.

He noted rope drop, the insider term for the moment a literal rope around attractions, restaurants and shops drops when the park opens at 8 a.m. is the best time to head to the “Star Wars”-themed “Rise of the Resistance,” which can easily draw two-hour lines later in the day.

Traver added this tidbit: Disney hotel guests receive early entry on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, so the other days are best for early arrivers.

Consider eating at the bigger restaurants

He said patrons looking to maximize time and find a seat should search for larger capacity places.

Those include Rancho del Zocalo in Frontierland, the Red Rose Taverne in Fantasyland, the Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree in Bayou Country, Galactic Grill and Alien Pizza Planet in Tomorrowland.

“The larger the crowd, the bigger the fight for seats,” Traver said. “Go to places with more seats.”

Next week, there might be one more consideration: Forecasters predict rain on Tuesday and Thursday.

Traver said restaurants like Alien Pizza Planet, which is 90% covered, or the Golden Horseshoe Restaurant in Frontierland, which is completely indoors, will be in high demand.

Take advantage of single rider

Both Disneyland and California Adventure offer a handful of single-rider lines.

If family members don’t mind riding alone, they can cut long waits at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Disneyland, the lone single-rider attractions at the park.

Traver’s favorite single rider attraction is California Adventure’s Radiator Springs Racer, where wait times are notorious.

“It will cut the wait time by a third,” Traver said.

Be realistic, but bring a good attitude

Maybe the biggest secret: Set proper expectations, Traver said.

“If you expect things to go smoothly and they don’t, now you’re disappointed,” he said. “But, if you arrive with lower expectations and an understanding that lines are going to be long and you’re just going to have to wait, you may be pleasantly surprised.”

The week’s biggest stories

(Jim Cooke / Los Angeles Times; Photos via Getty Images)

A chance for justice. A strain on today’s classrooms

• California school districts have paid nearly a half-billion dollars to settle past sexual abuse claims, Times reporters discovered.
• Starting in 2020, Assembly Bill 218 offered survivors of childhood sex abuse in California a three-year window to sue over past molestation and sexual assault.
• The wave of litigation has caused financial strain across the state’s schools and programs.
• Also, several California school districts have used confidentiality agreements to settle sex abuse claims and conceal them from the public.

Tyler Skaggs’ family reaches settlement with Angels

• Friday’s settlement in the wrongful death case brings an end to several days of juror deliberations and a four year legal battle.
• Terms of the agreement, which follows previous unsuccessful settlement efforts from the former Angels pitcher’s family, were not immediately available.

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For your downtime

Lively video projections behind a 1965 Ford Mustang make guests feel like they’re on a ride through Southern California at “American Icon: A Mustang Immersive Experience.”

(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

Going out

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Have a great day, from the Essential California team

Jim Rainey, staff reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor, Fast Break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew J. Campa, weekend writer
June Hsu, editorial fellow
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters

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