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| BA grounds all domestic flights | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| British Airways is to cancel all UK domestic services from London Heathrow on Thursday following severe fog. | |
| The firm said a significant number of European flights, including routes to Paris and Brussels served by the Eurostar, will also be grounded. | |
| BA and other airlines cancelled hundreds of flights to and from Heathrow on Wednesday. | |
| 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. |
| BA said it plans to run about 220 shorthaul flights to and from London Heathrow on Thursday, out of a normal daily total of 400 shorthaul and domestic flights. | |
| BBC transport correspondent Tom Symonds said BA had opted to cancel flights served by train services. | |
| 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 | Short haul cancellations |
| On Wednesday, 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. | At Gatwick, 18 BA short haul flights were cancelled. |
| 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. | 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. | 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 |
| I've been stuck in Cardiff International for the past three hours - I was meant to be in Glasgow by now! So much for festive spirit!Stephen Lee, Cardiff International | I've been stuck in Cardiff International for the past three hours - I was meant to be in Glasgow by now! So much for festive spirit!Stephen Lee, Cardiff International |
| It's surprisingly quiet in the departures lounge in Terminal Four, considering the long delays. Information is hard to get, but with the fog lifting and returning all the time it must be a nightmare for the customer services staff. BA just keep handing out snack vouchers to keep us happy.Christine, LHR T4 | It's surprisingly quiet in the departures lounge in Terminal Four, considering the long delays. Information is hard to get, but with the fog lifting and returning all the time it must be a nightmare for the customer services staff. BA just keep handing out snack vouchers to keep us happy.Christine, LHR T4 |
| I have to say I was worried having seen the problems in August but the people at the airport have kept me up to date. It's not there fault and seems so unfair to keep knocking BA for things that are out of their control.Richard, London | I have to say I was worried having seen the problems in August but the people at the airport have kept me up to date. It's not there fault and seems so unfair to keep knocking BA for things that are out of their control.Richard, London |
| It's not just BA. My sister was due to fly from Aberdeen to Heathrow with BMI tonight ahead of our flight out to Oman to visit our parents for Christmas. Seeing all the BA cancellations, I rang BMI to see if her flight was affected and was assured that it wouldn't be cancelled. I queried this as all BA flights had been grounded, and pointed out that hers was the last flight to London today - if they cancelled it later tonight, she'd be stuck in the UK for Christmas. Again, I was reassured that things would be fine. Two hours later, and BMI have just cancelled her flight. She's now on her way to the railway station, having had to leave work early. I realise the weather is out of their control, but they shouldn't be offering their customers the kind of assurances I was given when they clearly are lacking any up-to-date information themselves.Simon Allum, London, UK | It's not just BA. My sister was due to fly from Aberdeen to Heathrow with BMI tonight ahead of our flight out to Oman to visit our parents for Christmas. Seeing all the BA cancellations, I rang BMI to see if her flight was affected and was assured that it wouldn't be cancelled. I queried this as all BA flights had been grounded, and pointed out that hers was the last flight to London today - if they cancelled it later tonight, she'd be stuck in the UK for Christmas. Again, I was reassured that things would be fine. Two hours later, and BMI have just cancelled her flight. She's now on her way to the railway station, having had to leave work early. I realise the weather is out of their control, but they shouldn't be offering their customers the kind of assurances I was given when they clearly are lacking any up-to-date information themselves.Simon Allum, London, UK |
| I'm supposed to be flying out from Norwich today, but half their flights have been cancelled and the other half are delayed. This fog's supposed to continue for the next three or four days and I'm now looking at the trains as a contingency plan! Unfortunately, that will cost me at least twice as much, and take four times as long! It all reminds me of last year when it took me three attempts to get back to Norwich after Christmas due to snow and fog. Anyone managed to invent a teleporter yet?Jenny, Norwich, Norfolk | I'm supposed to be flying out from Norwich today, but half their flights have been cancelled and the other half are delayed. This fog's supposed to continue for the next three or four days and I'm now looking at the trains as a contingency plan! Unfortunately, that will cost me at least twice as much, and take four times as long! It all reminds me of last year when it took me three attempts to get back to Norwich after Christmas due to snow and fog. Anyone managed to invent a teleporter yet?Jenny, Norwich, Norfolk |
| My parents were supposed to be flying out here from Gatwick this morning to spend Christmas with us, but their flight was cancelled. They are now booked on a flight this afternoon, but will change in Brussels. Hopefully they will make it out here tonight, especially has they are brining out lots of presents for our children.Ashley Holland, Alsace, France | My parents were supposed to be flying out here from Gatwick this morning to spend Christmas with us, but their flight was cancelled. They are now booked on a flight this afternoon, but will change in Brussels. Hopefully they will make it out here tonight, especially has they are brining out lots of presents for our children.Ashley Holland, Alsace, France |
| I'm stuck in Bristol. Was due to fly out to Newcastle at 9pm, but now I'm going to miss it. I wonder if I'll get any compensation. I don't suppose so, I think 8000 of us are affected here.Stoopish, Bristol | I'm stuck in Bristol. Was due to fly out to Newcastle at 9pm, but now I'm going to miss it. I wonder if I'll get any compensation. I don't suppose so, I think 8000 of us are affected here.Stoopish, Bristol |
| Air France flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport are also affected. Flights this afternoon have been cancelled at the last minute, with passengers being left in the dark by airline employees. My 1pm flight to London was cancelled just two minutes before it was set to board, and there is a long backlog of passengers trying to find a way home. The airline is now telling passengers that they will most likely not be travelling to London today and making tentative arrangements for tomorrow. What a lovely way to spend the holidays!David Hanson, London, UK | Air France flights from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport are also affected. Flights this afternoon have been cancelled at the last minute, with passengers being left in the dark by airline employees. My 1pm flight to London was cancelled just two minutes before it was set to board, and there is a long backlog of passengers trying to find a way home. The airline is now telling passengers that they will most likely not be travelling to London today and making tentative arrangements for tomorrow. What a lovely way to spend the holidays!David Hanson, London, UK |