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Christmas travel chaos has broken out at UK airports as ‘heavy fog’ descended on Britain with more than 100 flights delayed or cancelled.
Travellers are being urged to check with their airline as air traffic restrictions are in place at several UK airports due to fog, the country’s main air traffic control (ATC) provider Nats said on Friday.
Gatwick and Manchester, the UK’s second and third busiest airports, are among those affected by the bad weather.
Some flights departing from Gatwick on Friday evening have been delayed by up to three hours because of the fog.
Meanwhile, live departure boards show around half a dozen flights set to leave Manchester Airport on Friday evening have been cancelled.
One person wrote on X: ‘Returning home from a Christmas cruise with @pandocruises. Stuck at Tenerife Airport due to the severe fog at @Gatwick_Airport.
‘Flight delayed indefinitely. Lots of angry passengers but safety has to come first. The weather must be bad in #Sussex! Wonder when I’ll get home!’
Another said: ‘Why are all the flights from @Gatwick_Airport suddenly delayed? Our flight to #ZRH delayed by an hour. Many delayed 3hrs.
Manchester Airport shrouded in fog as many flights are delayed tonight
Travellers are being urged to check with their airline as air traffic restrictions are in place at several UK airports due to fog. Pictured: passengers queue at Manchester Airport
Live departure boards show around half a dozen flights set to leave Manchester Airport on Friday evening have been cancelled
A third added: ‘We were told that flights have not departed before 4pm and there is a huge line now. We’re stuck on an airplane on the runaway in Naples and been told there might be a delay of up to 3hrs.’
The Met Office has not yet issued a weather warning for fog but said it will monitor conditions overnight.
A Nats spokesperson 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.’
EasyJet said it is currently experiencing some disruption to its flying programme due to low visibility.
‘While this is outside of our control, we are doing all we can to minimise the impact of the delays,’ an EasyJet spokesperson said.
Tower Bridge can barely be seen behind HMS Belfast amid foggy weather in London today
John Mitchell, 47, is desperate to get back to Aberdeen after finding out his father died on Friday morning.
Mr Mitchell, who had been in London visiting friends, booked a last-minute EasyJet flight from Gatwick Airport on Friday which has now been delayed for more than three hours due to the fog.
He said he is ‘absolutely devastated’ and hopes his flight which has been delayed till 10.53pm actually takes off on Friday.
‘I was actually supposed to be in London till Sunday, but I’ve had a family bereavement. My dad passed away this morning,’ Mr Mitchell told the PA news agency.
Low-lying fog over Huddersfield in West Yorkshire today as the dreary weather continues
A miserable and misty afternoon in the Oxfordshire countryside at Dunsden today
A double-decker red bus is driven across Westminster Bridge during foggy weather today
‘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.’
A London Gatwick spokesperson 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.’
Meanwhile, National Highways, which runs the UK’s motorways and busiest A-roads, said the misty weather is not having a significant impact on its network, but reminded motorists to use dipped headlights, wipers and demisters while driving in foggy conditions.
