Originally Posted by
GLAEDI
EK will always look to divert first to airports where they have a ground presence, also airports where the pilots feel comfortable with. The Pilots decision process would be ok, where have we fuel to go to. Ok MAN, EDI, PIK or NCL. Ok where have we been before as pilots, ok that’s MAN & NCL. Call to Ops can you handle? MAN No busy, NCL yes. OK NCL it is. If GLA is to open again soon, we can fuel up and return all the fuel contracts are there. You’ll find a ferry flight in a 777 from NCL or MAN to Glasgow would be similar in times and fuel burn as PWK to GLA. I’m sure if the pilots looked at their fuel reserves and they were low then a dive to PIK or EDI would have been the solution. Also you have to remember that EK staff have to get from GLA to PIK the M77 over Fenwick Moor is hellish!!
The alternates are on the flight plan already, whether they contact EK Ops to discuss, I don't know. Clearly EDI was ruled out as it was possibly accepting diversions already (and although a Swissport presence, no EK staff) and NCL is only a little bit longer flying time than PIK.. (assuming they routed to the TRN though - radar vectors for RWY12 would cut the time and burn substantially). Anyway it went to NCL, MAN wasn't an alternate. And that's that. It sounds like the staff there were still busy with EK36 too so EK27 would possibly have to take a backseat. Such is life.