Over 1,000 flights delayed at Heathrow, Gatwick airports following fog disruption
Thick fog envelops Birmingham International Airport, with bad weather delaying flights across the UK Credit: Lee Thomas
More than 1,000 flights were delayed at Heathrow and Gatwick airports as fog created travel chaos on Friday.
Air traffic restrictions were put in place at airports in London and Manchester, with long delays and several cancelled flights as a result of the bad weather. Fog also enveloped Birmingham International airport.
Travellers were urged to check the status of their flights with their airline before travelling to an airport.
John Mitchell, 47, a passenger at Gatwick, saw his flight to Aberdeen delayed by more than three hours because of the fog. He had been in London visiting friends but booked a last-minute EasyJet flight on Friday after finding out that his father had died.
He told the PA news agency: “The flight I booked is for 7.35pm but is now estimated to leave at 10.53pm – nearly three and a half hours late. I’m worried, because Aberdeen airport has got restrictions for late flights. I’m absolutely devastated.”
Flightradar24, an aircraft-tracking website, reported that 77 per cent of flights departing Gatwick had been delayed as well as 65 per cent of flights leaving Heathrow.
Between them, the airports have seen more than 1,000 arriving and departing flights delayed, according to the tracker, which reported that 22 departing flights had been cancelled at Heathrow and 14 at Gatwick.
A Gatwick spokesman said: “Temporary air traffic restrictions have been put in place due to fog causing poor visibility. Some flights may be delayed throughout the day. London Gatwick apologises for any inconvenience. Passengers should contact their airline for further information.”
A Heathrow spokesman said poor weather could lead to last-minute delays and advised passengers to check the status of their flight before travelling.
Manchester airport confirmed it had been experiencing “some delays like most airports across the country” as a result of the fog, but a spokesman said: “In most instances, these delays have been short.”
A spokesman for Nats, the country’s main air traffic control provider, said: “Due to widespread fog, temporary air traffic restrictions are in place at several airports across the UK today. Restrictions of this sort are only ever applied to maintain safety.
“We continue to monitor the situation, and have a Met Office expert embedded within our operation to ensure we have the latest available information.Our teams are working closely with the airports and airlines to minimise disruption.”
The disruption comes on a day considered one of the busiest for travel as people make return journeys from Christmas trips.
Telegraph UK
