BA flight disruption leaves Chief Minister stuck abroad

Tuesday 01 March 2022

The Chief Minister has been unable to get back to Jersey after a half-term holiday with his family due to British Airways flight cancellations and fog.

Due to face questions at a States Assembly meeting this morning, Senator John Le Fondré sought an urgent ruling from the Bailiff as to whether he could participate from abroad remotely.

Under usual rules, States Members are only allowed to ask and answer questions - and vote on matters - if they are on the island.

However, it's been confirmed this morning, that the Bailiff has decided the existing ruling on attending a States sitting remotely will be maintained.

As a result, Deputy Chief Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham - who made the announcement regarding short-term visas for Ukrainian nationals in the Chief Minister's absence last week - will fill in.

Ahead of the Bailiff's decision, Senator Le Fondré shared details of the difficult situation in an email to States Members yesterday evening.

It read:

"Dear all

As you may be aware there has been some significant travel disruption over the weekend mainly as a result of the cancellation by British Airways of many flights, and also some fog.

Unfortunately I am one of a number of Islanders who have experienced delays as a result (being away with the family on annual leave).

We were due to return early yesterday evening, however very late Saturday night our flights were cancelled as part of the huge disruption that has taken place as a result of the system problems that British Airways have experienced.

We have sorted out most of the logistics yesterday but in essence we are now scheduled to return early Wednesday afternoon. [There are no flights from the airport we would normally be using at all this week until Friday].

I have e-mailed The Bailiff and Greffier to seek a ruling on whether I might be able to answer Questions without notice remotely. I appreciate that there is an existing ruling on this but feel that it is important for States Members to have the opportunity to put questions to me directly. However at present Lyndon will be doing QWON on my behalf, and I am presently working on other logistical matters (for example Oral Questions)  during the rest of the day.

I await the Bailiff’s ruling and will of course relay the arrangements to Members.

Separately I have been keeping in touch with Lyndon over the past few days as matters have been developing (ie re Ukraine).

I wanted to give as much notice as possible on this, and apologise for my absence in the Assembly.

With kind regards

John"

Scores of British Airways' flights to and from London Heathrow were cancelled over the weekend as a result of what was described as a "technical issue".

While there had been warnings that Russian hackers may target critical national infrastructure following the invasion of Ukraine, British Airways said their problems were the result of a hardware failure, rather than a cyber attack.

Pictured top: Chief Minister John Le Fondré participating virtually in a previous States Assembly meeting from his office at the Government's Broad Street headquarters.