Into the cruise

摘要

Arguably, one of the biggest challenges of COVID-19 has been the logistical feat of moving and repatriating millions of people worldwide. British Airways has continued to operate throughout the lockdown period, albeit with a vastly reduced schedule operating mainly freight, and some passenger repatriation flights. I spoke to Toby Joiner, a BA 747 captain, who recounted a recent rescue flight to Miami. Toby has been at BA for more than 20 years, and worked his way through the company flying the 737, A320 and latterly the 747, where he took his long-haul command. He was called off standby and, perhaps notably, was asked if he would be keen to volunteer for a rescue flight to Miami. He accepted, reported for duty and, despite Heathrow operating only a skeleton schedule of flights, it took him and the rest of the crew half an hour to find the aircraft. It seems the aircraft had been towed to a remote parking stand and nobody knew where it was parked. Some things never change.