Flights at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been delayed for as long as six hours as a recent heatwave gives way to severe thunderstorms. More than 600 flights in and out of the two primary travel hubs have experienced delays so far this Saturday, with dozens of cancellations recorded, primarily driven by the stormy conditions. According to NATS, the UK’s air traffic control service, these weather-related delays are anticipated to persist throughout the remainder of the day.
Flight tracker FlightAware reports that at least 367 flights arriving at or departing from Heathrow have been delayed, with another 352 similarly affected at Gatwick. The European aviation agency, Eurocontrol, has noted that Heathrow and Gatwick are currently the only UK airports experiencing “heavy” delays attributed to the ongoing storms. The most significant air traffic control disruptions are occurring in the airspace situated between south-east England and north-western Europe, where the storm clouds are currently located. Flights navigating routes outside of this storm-affected zone are continuing to operate on schedule.
The impact on flight times has varied significantly. For instance, Gatwick’s live departure board listed an Easyjet flight to Antalya, originally scheduled for 11:50 BST, delayed until 18:00. Other services at Heathrow, including those operated by British Airways, have faced delays of at least four hours. Gatwick officials confirmed that temporary air traffic control restrictions were implemented due to the persistent storms, while Easyjet has offered apologies for the widespread disruption.
Passengers have taken to social media to share their frustration. One traveler recounted that her daughter was confined to an Easyjet plane at Gatwick for four hours before the flight was eventually cancelled. Another passenger, 29-year-old Adam Joseph, described being stranded at Venice airport in Italy without air conditioning. His flight to Gatwick was delayed by over four hours, as the aircraft remained in London for its outbound journey. Originally due to depart Venice at 12:30 local time, Joseph noted the lack of communication from British Airways and the anger felt by stranded travelers.
British Airways issued a statement acknowledging that, like other airlines, they were forced to make schedule adjustments due to air traffic control restrictions caused by adverse weather. The airline apologized for the inconvenience, stating they are working to resume normal service, and noted that the majority of passengers remained unaffected. Easyjet confirmed that they had to pre-emptively cancel some flights due to restricted arrivals and departures, promising to notify passengers regarding rebooking, refunds, and accommodation. While a Met Office amber warning for extreme heat remains in effect for parts of eastern and south-eastern England until 09:00 BST on Sunday, forecasters expect the thunderstorm activity to the south of the UK to worsen throughout the afternoon.
