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Travel delays: Air traffic control problem affects Heathrow and Gatwick Heathrow and Gatwick passengers hit with more delays
(about 3 hours later)
Air and rail passengers are being hit by more disruption after record-breaking temperatures caused travel chaos on Thursday. Air passengers at two of the UK's biggest airports are being hit by more disruption caused by a problem with the country's air traffic control system.
Flights from London airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, have been delayed and cancelled due to the weather. It comes after Heathrow and Gatwick had already endured a day of flight cancellations and delays due to storms following this week's heatwave.
Disruption is also being caused by a technical problem with the UK's air traffic control system. UK air traffic controller Nats said the situation would improve after it fixed the problem at Swanwick Control Centre.
Train services have also been delayed and cancelled after the second hottest day in the UK was recorded on Thursday. Rail delays caused by extreme heat also began to ease on Friday.
Rail companies feared rail lines would buckle - but it was sagging overhead cables that led to problems. The Met Office said Thursday was potentially the UK's hottest ever day after it received a provisional recording of 38.7C at Cambridge Botanic Garden.
Martin White and his wife were stuck at Naples Airport after their Thursday night flight to Gatwick Airport was cancelled due to the weather. The reading will require "quality control and analysis" over the next few days, the forecaster said.
"Everybody is packed liked sardines and there are fraying tempers," Mr White said. Official figures, which recorded 38.1C in Cambridge, already put Thursday as the hottest July day on record and the UK's second hottest day.
'Packed like sardines'
Mark Pickering was due to fly to Singapore on his way to Sydney, but his Thursday evening flight from Heathrow was cancelled due to "spoiled" food caused by the hot weather.
He waited at the airport until 02:00 BST on Friday morning, before getting a hotel and returning at 07:00 to try again.
"I still don't know where my bags are and I've no idea what to do when I finally get to Singapore because I've missed my connecting flight by ages," he said.
"When the flight was cancelled last night there was a line of about 300 to 400 people and no one really knew what was going on. There was one person at the check in desk."
Diane Styant, who was booked to fly on the same flight to Singapore as Mr Pickering, said she was not able to get any accommodation on Thursday night.
She said she had to sit on an upright chair in a coffee shop until 03:30, when she and her husband joined the queue in departures for rebooking.
After more than four hours, they managed to book another flight leaving on Friday.
"Our precious annual holiday to visit our family who live in Singapore has not got off well," she added.
Friday has been cooler than Thursday, with temperatures ranging from 23C to 25C in most areas (73F to 77F), rising to 27C in south-east England.Friday has been cooler than Thursday, with temperatures ranging from 23C to 25C in most areas (73F to 77F), rising to 27C in south-east England.
During the day it is expected to be mostly dry but rain is expected to develop across northern and eastern areas of the UK overnight. During the day it is expected to be mostly dry, but rain is expected to develop across northern and eastern areas of the UK overnight.
The disruption to flights on Thursday evening and into Friday was caused by storms across Europe.The disruption to flights on Thursday evening and into Friday was caused by storms across Europe.
But Nats said there was also a problem at Swanwick Control Centre which it is trying to fix. A "technical problem" at Swanwick air traffic control centre on Friday morning also caused problems at Heathrow and Gatwick.
Luton Airport had five cancellations on Friday morning while Gatwick Airport had 19. The UK's air traffic controller said in the afternoon it had "fixed the issue sufficiently to safely increase traffic flow rates and will see an improving picture through the rest of the day".
Heathrow Airport issued an apology via Twitter for the disruption, and advised customers to speak to airline providers for more information. Both Heathrow Airport and Gatwick asked passengers to check with airlines before travelling.
Guy Holloway's morning flight from Heathrow to Oslo was cancelled due to adverse weather. British Airways said severe thunderstorms had caused "significant delays and cancellations to our operation in and out of London".
"After 2.5 hours we are now near the front of the queue to be rebooked," he said on Friday morning. The Independent's travel editor, Simon Calder, said "dozens" of the cancelled flights were on easyJet and there were "some very long delays on British Airways".
The Independent's travel editor Simon Calder said "dozens" of the cancelled flights were on easyJet and there were "some very long delays on British Airways". Meanwhile, some rail commuters were stranded in London on Thursday night after overhead wires on the network became damaged in the heat and speed restrictions were introduced to prevent the lines from buckling.
Meanwhile, on the rail network, speed restrictions on Thursday prevented lines from buckling in the heat, but damage to overhead lines left some commuters stranded in London on Thursday night.
Despite working "flat out" to repair the damage, disruption continued into Friday and Network Rail advised passengers to check with their train operator before travelling.Despite working "flat out" to repair the damage, disruption continued into Friday and Network Rail advised passengers to check with their train operator before travelling.
Many operators said tickets for Friday could be used the following day, and offered compensation to season ticket holders who did not travel on Thursday.Many operators said tickets for Friday could be used the following day, and offered compensation to season ticket holders who did not travel on Thursday.
However, Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates trains in south-east England, initially said passengers with an annual pass would only be entitled to compensation if they attempted a journey on Thursday and were delayed - despite it urging customers to avoid travelling where possible.However, Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates trains in south-east England, initially said passengers with an annual pass would only be entitled to compensation if they attempted a journey on Thursday and were delayed - despite it urging customers to avoid travelling where possible.
But the firm then reversed its decision, saying passengers with an annual pass would be entitled to a payout even if they did not attempt a journey on Thursday.But the firm then reversed its decision, saying passengers with an annual pass would be entitled to a payout even if they did not attempt a journey on Thursday.
Anthony Smith, chief executive of independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: "All passengers told not to travel due to extreme weather should be entitled to claim compensation."Anthony Smith, chief executive of independent watchdog Transport Focus, said: "All passengers told not to travel due to extreme weather should be entitled to claim compensation."
Thursday saw the UK's second hottest day - and hottest July day - on record, with temperatures reaching 38.1C (100.6F) in Cambridge.
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