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| Fog causes Heathrow flight chaos | Fog causes Heathrow flight chaos |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Fog has grounded hundreds of flights in the UK, including all British Airways domestic services and some short haul services to and from Heathrow. | |
| Some flights at Gatwick airport, Cardiff International and Liverpool John Lennon were also affected. | Some flights at Gatwick airport, Cardiff International and Liverpool John Lennon were also affected. |
| Airport operator BAA said 223 flights had been cancelled altogether. | Airport operator BAA said 223 flights had been cancelled altogether. |
| The BBC Weather Centre says the poor conditions are set to continue for the next few days when many people will be travelling for the festive break. | The BBC Weather Centre says the poor conditions are set to continue for the next few days when many people will be travelling for the festive break. |
| It warned that the weather was likely to cause problems for motorists right up to Christmas. | It warned that the weather was likely to cause problems for motorists right up to Christmas. |
| The fog has also caused delays for ferries docking at Pembroke port - with 160 passengers on Irish Ferries' Isle of Inishmore coming in 10 hours late. | The fog has also caused delays for ferries docking at Pembroke port - with 160 passengers on Irish Ferries' Isle of Inishmore coming in 10 hours late. |
| Short haul cancellations | |
| BA cancelled 160 out of the normal daily total of 400 short haul flights to and from Heathrow. | |
| The flights affected are in both directions between Heathrow and Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle. | The flights affected are in both directions between Heathrow and Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle. |
| Long-haul flights are still being operated by the airline, but with severe delays. | Long-haul flights are still being operated by the airline, but with severe delays. |
| At Gatwick, 18 BA short haul flights were cancelled. | |
| BA warned there would be delays and possible cancellations to its domestic and European short haul services at Heathrow for the next 48 hours, and also delays at Gatwick. | |
| The airline said dense fog and low visibility had caused air traffic control to place restrictions on flights landing and taking off at Heathrow. | The airline said dense fog and low visibility had caused air traffic control to place restrictions on flights landing and taking off at Heathrow. |
| Flow rates were at 50% of normal capacity throughout Wednesday morning, affecting all carriers at the airport, after the spacing between planes in the air was increased from three miles to six miles. | |
| The move was introduced as a safety measure by air traffic control, part of whose work is done visually from the control tower. | |
| BA CANCELLATIONS British Airways customers should contact 0800 727 800 to see if their flight is still operating | BA CANCELLATIONS British Airways customers should contact 0800 727 800 to see if their flight is still operating |
| A spokesman for Heathrow said other operators as well as BA had been affected, including Lufthansa and Alitalia. | A spokesman for Heathrow said other operators as well as BA had been affected, including Lufthansa and Alitalia. |
| "There is a 30-minute delay on incoming flights and minor delays to outgoing ones," he said. | "There is a 30-minute delay on incoming flights and minor delays to outgoing ones," he said. |
| A Gatwick spokesman said: "We have had one or two flight cancellations and some delays, but thankfully the situation is nothing like as bad here as it is at Heathrow." | A Gatwick spokesman said: "We have had one or two flight cancellations and some delays, but thankfully the situation is nothing like as bad here as it is at Heathrow." |
| Alternative arrangements | Alternative arrangements |
| At Cardiff International Airport, a number of flights were delayed or diverted to Bristol. | At Cardiff International Airport, a number of flights were delayed or diverted to Bristol. |
| Several flights, including Easyjet flights, in and out of Liverpool John Lennon Airport were also cancelled. | Several flights, including Easyjet flights, in and out of Liverpool John Lennon Airport were also cancelled. |
| BA urged customers due to travel on domestic flights to or from Heathrow not to travel to the airport. | BA urged customers due to travel on domestic flights to or from Heathrow not to travel to the airport. |
| Customers planning to use a domestic flight to catch an onward connection were urged to check on ba.com or contact BA on 0800 727 800 to see if their onward flight was still operating. | Customers planning to use a domestic flight to catch an onward connection were urged to check on ba.com or contact BA on 0800 727 800 to see if their onward flight was still operating. |
| BA said customers should make alternative arrangements to get to Heathrow if the outward flight was still going ahead. | BA said customers should make alternative arrangements to get to Heathrow if the outward flight was still going ahead. |
| 'Fog hazard' | 'Fog hazard' |
| BBC weatherman Darren Bett said: "The reason we've got fog is a large area of high pressure over the UK and trapped underneath is moist, low-level air which produces this fog and low cloud. | BBC weatherman Darren Bett said: "The reason we've got fog is a large area of high pressure over the UK and trapped underneath is moist, low-level air which produces this fog and low cloud. |
| "The same area of high pressure will still be sitting over England and Wales on Christmas Day, so right until Christmas and even beyond there's the risk of fog. | "The same area of high pressure will still be sitting over England and Wales on Christmas Day, so right until Christmas and even beyond there's the risk of fog. |
| "Motorists need to be aware that fog is going to be a hazard from now until Christmas, especially across England and Wales." | "Motorists need to be aware that fog is going to be a hazard from now until Christmas, especially across England and Wales." |
| Are you stuck at the airport? Will you miss your Christmas flights because of the fog? What assistance are you getting from the airlines or airport staff to make the delay more comfortable? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you stuck at the airport? Will you miss your Christmas flights because of the fog? What assistance are you getting from the airlines or airport staff to make the delay more comfortable? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures of airport crowds to yourpics@bbc.co.uk | You can send your pictures of airport crowds to yourpics@bbc.co.uk |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |