Fog Disrupts Dozens of Flights at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports
Heavy fog caused significant flight cancellations and delays at Heathrow and Gatwick, affecting thousands of passengers over a busy winter weekend.
London, Heathrow, Gatwick, UK, Flights, Cancellations, Fog
London: This weekend, travelers faced a real headache at Heathrow and Gatwick. Low clouds and thick fog caused a mess, leading to tons of delays and cancellations.
Over 200 flights were scrapped between Friday and Saturday evening. Air traffic controllers had to slow things down, which really threw a wrench in the works.
Forecasters say the fog will stick around for a bit, especially in southern England, but things should clear up later on Saturday. Fingers crossed!
Heathrow and Gatwick are the busiest airports in the world, so when they can’t operate at full capacity, it creates chaos. Many passengers were left waiting, and some were even stuck on planes for hours.
One traveler, Chris, tweeted about his canceled flight from Salzburg. He had two unhappy kids with him, and it was a real struggle. His family was among about 20,000 British Airways passengers affected.
Gatwick was hit the hardest, with 48 flights grounded, mostly easyJet. Kiera, who was trying to get back to London from the Isle of Man, had her flight delayed and then canceled. She was pretty frustrated, saying their five-day trip turned into a seven-day ordeal.
At London City and Heathrow, over 40 flights were also canceled. Manchester Airport saw 22 cancellations, too. It was a rough day for travelers all around.
Some flights were diverted, with Teesside Airport seeing the most action. One Ryanair flight from Spain had to circle before being sent to Dublin instead. Talk about a detour!
Even a Qatar Airways flight had to divert to Paris before finally making it to its destination, arriving way behind schedule. That meant missed connections for a lot of folks.
On Saturday, the disruption continued. Planespotters at Heathrow noticed most planes disappeared into the fog right after takeoff. Passengers waiting on the ground had it even worse.
EasyJet explained that the weather forced air traffic control to limit flights, leading to all the delays and cancellations. They emphasized that safety is their top priority.
Many passengers were left waiting on planes for hours, with one Turkish Airlines flight arriving nine hours late. Can you imagine the frustration?
Etihad passengers from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi also faced a seven-hour delay, missing connections in the UAE. Under passenger rights rules, airlines are supposed to help with alternative flights and accommodations, but it can be a hassle during such disruptions.
Last Sunday, high winds caused similar chaos, with over 100 flights grounded. A British Airways spokesperson said they usually run smoothly but had to adjust schedules due to the weather. They apologized for the inconvenience and are working hard to get things back on track.