Severe fog and strong winds have caused significant travel disruptions at London airports, with dozens of flights canceled and over 400 delayed on Saturday, according to flight tracking data.
FlightAware reports that Gatwick experienced 238 delays, Heathrow 209, and Stansted 31. The adverse weather conditions also forced cancellations, with Heathrow canceling 40 flights and Gatwick at least 26. Some passengers at Gatwick faced waits of up to nine hours.
This follows similar disruptions on Friday, where thick fog led to delays of up to three hours. The Met Office warned that visibility could drop to as low as 100 meters in some areas overnight and into Saturday. A statement highlighted the persistence of mist and fog, predicting it would linger throughout the day across the London region.
A Gatwick spokesperson confirmed temporary air traffic restrictions due to poor visibility, apologizing for the inconvenience and advising passengers to contact their airlines for updates.
While the Met Office has not issued formal fog warnings, it continues to monitor the situation. Liam Eslick, a meteorologist, noted widespread fog across much of England, particularly in the South East and central regions, with some areas remaining murky through Saturday morning.
The disruption extends beyond London, with delays also reported at Manchester Airport. NATS, the UK’s air traffic control agency, emphasized that temporary restrictions are implemented solely for safety and that their teams are working closely with airlines and airports to minimize disruptions.
Motorists have been advised to exercise caution while driving in foggy conditions. Relief is expected on Sunday as stronger winds are forecast to clear the lingering low cloud and fog.
However, while the murky weather may ease, winter sunshine remains unlikely in the coming days. Eslick added, “It won’t be as bleak early next week, but wet and windy conditions will prevail across much of the country.”