Heathrow closure latest: First flights to leave tonight announced; No 10 says 'questions to answer' over shutdown
Our North of England correspondent Katie Barnfield is at Manchester Airport, which accepted five diverted flights this morning that were originally heading for Heathrow. Among those are flights travelling from Nairobi, New York and Dubai.
Barnfield has spoken to passengers who left the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and were initially told they were heading to Gatwick.
They were then diverted to Brussels, where they were held on the asphalt for four hours before flying up to Manchester.
Airlines are trying to organise coaches to drive passengers to London, though it appears people could be waiting a while.
"One of the drivers of those coaches told me that the airlines have been calling around since 4.30am this morning trying to get as many drivers as they could to come here and pick up those passengers," Barnfield says.
"But he said that just weren't enough drivers available. As far as he was aware, nine coaches so far had been sent here to Manchester to pick up those passengers, but people could be waiting for quite a long time."
"In terms of a knock-on impact here at Manchester, it's not been too bad at the moment," she adds.
"But for those passengers who've been diverted here and suddenly found themselves 200 miles away from where they thought they would be in Heathrow, there is still a bit of a journey for them"
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Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Grandad's fury after 18-second loo trip costs him dearly at airport car park
18 seconds can be too quick for some things, and far too long for others. But for Eric Moffatt, 66, it cost him almost £20 in an airport car park. The granddad says Manchester Airport are unfairly penalising him for an '18-second-mistake' and a trip to the loo. It unfolded after Eric, from Aigburth, had dropped his daughter and granddaughter off for a flight to Dubai at Manchester Airport on Friday 8 August. During the 6.35am stop at the Terminal 2 Drop Off, he went to use the toilet, which he said was a 'fair walk away' from the car park. After saying his goodbyes he left the airport at 6.45am. The granddad expected to then fork out £6.40 for the drop off. This is because the terminal's rules dictate that customers are allowed to park for up to 10 minutes for the price of £6.40, over this they must pay £25. The same fees apply at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, with the max stay allowed being 30 minutes. Believing his stay had been 10 minutes, which was confirmed by the receipt, Eric went to pay the fee when he found he'd actually been charged £25. It took a closer look at the receipt to discover why: he had been parked up for 10 minutes and 18 seconds. That was 18 seconds over the limit. The 66-year-old is now furious, saying he has been unfairly overcharged because a health condition means he needs to go to the toilet more often. Eric said: 'I phoned up to question it and the guy told me I can appeal but if I lose the appeal I'll be told to pay £60. 'The guy on the phone said if you're one second over the 10 minutes you'll be charged £25. It just doesn't seem fair when I was 10 minutes, I wasn't 11 minutes. 'It is a new terminal, I didn't know where I was going inside and I have a bladder problem – I feel like I'm being penalised twice for it. I've been charged £25 for 18 seconds, how is that fair?' More Trending Manchester Airport are defending their drop-off charges as crucial for allowing the car parks to work smoothly. A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said: 'Drop-off charges help us to manage demand for access to our forecourts, where space is limited, and reduce traffic congestion. 'It means that the areas remain efficient even at busy times because people are not staying there for extended periods. 'We also offer a completely free drop-off facility by the nearby JetParks 1 car park. It is served by a 24-hour shuttle bus that runs every few minutes and takes less than six minutes to get to all three terminals.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man dies after falling from car park at Manchester Airport MORE: Girl, 4, dies after being found unconscious in Waterworld theme park MORE: Risk and reward, Trump's Mini-Me and planting trees for the planet
Time Out Dubai
2 days ago
- Time Out Dubai
10 delicious restaurants in Karama you need to visit
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An excellent Indian restaurant specialising in Southern Indian cuisine, this has been one of the best budget restaurants in Dubai for many years, and one of the top Indian restaurants in town, too. With dishes that sing with spice, dig into chicken Malabari, fish tikka, moilee, masala mushrooms and more, all served with piping hot naan. Open daily, 7am-midnight. Unlicensed. Karama, @calicutparagon (04 335 8700). Dapoer Kita Dapoer Kita is an authentic Indonesian restaurant with a menu that features flavorful dishes that keep diners coming back again and again. From delicious chicken satay to nasi goreng and the comforting soto ayam. There's a daily buffet, fantastic service and a comfy space to enjoy the authentic cuisine. Sat-Thu 11am-10.30pm, Fri 11am-1pm and 1.45pm-10.30pm. Sheikh Mohammad Building, Al Karama, (050 453 9991). Eric's Owing to its location by the sea and cultural influences from the Portuguese, it's a top tourist destination in the country. It's known for seaside eateries throwing banger parties and fresh-off-the-boat seafare that's fried, roasted or curried and served with a chilled hop. With food that tastes like it was made with a granny's loving touch and traditional interiors featuring artwork by Indian cartoonist Mario Miranda, eating at Eric's feels just like visiting a Goan friend's home. Open daily from 11am-3.30pm, 6.30pm-11.45pm. Sheikh Hamdan Colony, Karama (04 396 4447) LIZ restaurant LIZ is the spot to enjoy authentic Kerala food with a homemade feel. It might not be heavily laden with oil and ghee, which is what pulls us back again and again. What's special about the place you ask? If you're fortunate enough to meet the restaurant owner, who also takes orders, he'll chat with you like an old friend. Open daily from 7am-11pm. Al Karama (04 342 6955). Khandani Rajdhani If you're looking for the most authentic Indian dining experience, this is the spot we'd recommend. Rajasthani hospitality and their vegetarian cuisine are a whole experience. Expect servers to insist you try just one more helping, to make sure your plate is always full. Rajasthani hosts love making you feel like royalty, nudging you to eat well and savour every bite — they know there's no happier guest than a well-fed one. From ghee-laden curries to fragrant saffron-scented rice, you'll be on a full-on flavour ride. And over fifteen minutes you'll be served with over 27 curries and sabzis and pickles and a range of warm rotis and rice. All in all, you'll be too happy to move. With the price at Dhs53, we agree this isn't exactly budget. But if you've not had it before, trust us when we say, it's a must-try. Open daily from noon-3.30pm and 7pm-11pm. Al Khafajy Building, Al Karama (04 334 7977). Mogiya This authentic Japanese Restaurant serves up traditional dishes like sushi, sashimi, tempura, udon noodles, and teriyaki in the heart of the city. 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You'll get the freshest seafood, like shrimps to jumbo tiger prawns expertly infused with authentic Arabian flavours. Quality is top-notch and service is wonderfully warm. Open daily from noon-midnight. Al Shafar building, Al Karama (04 335 5722). Sri Balaji Bhavan What's Tamil cuisine most popular for? Its breakfast. Hot soft-as-clouds idlis and the coriander-laced sambar. Idlis, dosas and puris are breakfast items enjoyed by everyone in the country irrespective of which region they're from. Since idlis are rice cakes made from fermented batter, it's super light on the tummy. And when paired with sambar, they create a filling and finger-licking good breakfast. Plus, it's vegan and gluten-free (the kind that doesn't taste like cardboard). In Tamil homes, you won't find instant coffee powders. It's routine to visit a roastery to create your unique blend of dark-roasted coffee beans and chicory, which they then filter at home. Open daily from 7am-midnight. Karama Park, Al Karama (054 294 9897). Zagol At Zagol, Ethiopian food offers a unique, flavorful experience that goes beyond the typical 'spicy' dish. The food is rich with complex seasonings like basil, fenugreek, and korarima, but not overwhelmingly hot. The best way to experience it is by ordering a platter, which serves three people and features a variety of vegetarian dishes served with injera, a spongy flatbread. For just Dhs110, you can enjoy an authentic, delicious Ethiopian meal, making Zagol a must-try for newcomers to the cuisine. Open daily from 10am-11.30pm. Opp Burjuman, Al Karama (04 357 7740). In other news… Dubai's Al Karama will soon become a car-free zone And three other neighbourhoods will also get the same transformation The best budget restaurants to try tonight in Dubai Where to go for amazing food at a bargain Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2025 – shortlist revealed It's official: after 12 months of anonymous reviews, these are Dubai's best restaurants
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
Grandad charged £25 for 18-second mistake while dropping family at airport
Grandad charged £25 for 18-second mistake while dropping family at airport Eric Moffatt, 66, from Aigburth, was dropping his daughter and granddaughter off at Manchester Airport ahead of their flight to Dubai when he was hit with a £25 charge Eric Moffatt had thought he was within the permitted time limit for a reduced parking fee, but to his shock he was considered over the limit by 18 seconds (Image: Liverpool Echo) A grandfather claims he has been unjustly fined over an 18-second error. Eric Moffatt, 66, was dropping off his daughter and granddaughter at Manchester Airport on Friday, August 8, before their departure to Dubai, where they reside. This comes after private parking firms have been asked to 'come clean' over 'unfair' tickets. Additionally, data released recently shows that private parking firms have issued an eye watering 14.4m tickets to drivers in the 12 months that led up to March 2025. In February 2025, a man told WalesOnline how a parking ticket almost ruined his life despite paying. Eric showing the airport parking fee notice that mentions his duration of stay was 10 minutes (Image: Liverpool Echo) In Eric's case, he left his family at the Manchester Airport Terminal 2 Drop Off area at 6.35am and then made his way to use the facilities inside the terminal, which required a "fair walk away" from the car park. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here He returned to the parking area, bid farewell to his family and departed the car park. Under the current drop off parking regulations at T2, motorists are permitted to park for up to 10 minutes at a cost of £6.40, with any overage requiring a £25 payment. Motorists have until midnight the following day to settle the parking fee through the airport's website, which can be accessed here. Departing the drop off area at 6.45am, Eric believed he had stayed within the 10-minute allowance, but upon returning home and logging online to settle the parking charge, he discovered he had been billed £25, despite his parking ticket showing a 10-minute duration, reports the Liverpool Echo. Upon examining the receipt more carefully, he realised he had actually been parked for 10 minutes and 18 seconds, pushing him beyond the time threshold. Eric feels he is "being penalised" for an 18-second oversight. A spokesperson for Manchester Airport explained that the imposition of drop-off charges is a measure to regulate demand for terminal access and alleviate traffic congestion. They claim this ensures these zones "remain efficient" even during peak times by discouraging prolonged stays. Eric recounted his experience, attributing the oversight to a medical condition affecting his bladder. He shared: "Me and my daughter were seeing my other daughter and granddaughter off, they live in Dubai. In March I had a health problem with my bladder which means I have to go to the toilet more than usual." He continued, describing the situation: "I'd gone into the terminal to go to the toilet and the guy behind one of the desks pointed me in the right direction. They were right the way down a long corridor. I went back and said my goodbyes to my daughter and granddaughter." Upon returning home, Eric attempted to settle the £6.40 charge online but was met with a surprise. He said: "As soon as I got home I went on the website to pay the £6.40 charge but when I went to pay it it said mine was £25. I phoned up to question it and the guy told me I can appeal but if I lose the appeal I'll be told to pay £60." Eric expressed his frustration, adding: "When I investigated why I'd been charged over the 10 minutes it said I'd been 10 minutes and 18 seconds over. The guy on the phone said if you're one second over the 10 minutes you'll be charged £25. It just doesn't seem fair when I was 10 minutes, I wasn't 11 minutes. "It is a new terminal, I didn't know where I was going inside and I have a bladder problem - I feel like I'm being penalised twice for it. I've been charged £25 for 18 seconds, how is that fair?" Article continues below A representative from Manchester Airport responded: "Drop-off charges help us to manage demand for access to our forecourts, where space is limited, and reduce traffic congestion. It means that the areas remain efficient even at busy times because people are not staying there for extended periods. "We also offer a completely free drop-off facility by the nearby JetParks 1 car park. It is served by a 24-hour shuttle bus that runs every few minutes and takes less than six minutes to get to all three terminals."
