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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Hopes for end to fog travel chaos | Hopes for end to fog travel chaos |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| British Airways is hoping to operate a fuller flight service on Saturday, after three days of freezing fog caused chaos at Heathrow and other airports. | British Airways is hoping to operate a fuller flight service on Saturday, after three days of freezing fog caused chaos at Heathrow and other airports. |
| Some 46 morning flights are cancelled, but from midday BA plans to operate all domestic flights to and from Heathrow. | Some 46 morning flights are cancelled, but from midday BA plans to operate all domestic flights to and from Heathrow. |
| The airline said it hoped to operate 95% of its Heathrow services, including 87% of short-haul flights, on Saturday, with a full service on Sunday. | The airline said it hoped to operate 95% of its Heathrow services, including 87% of short-haul flights, on Saturday, with a full service on Sunday. |
| More than 1,000 flights were cancelled in recent days because of the fog. | More than 1,000 flights were cancelled in recent days because of the fog. |
| Forecasters at the BBC's Weather Centre said they were "reasonably confident" visibility would improve around Heathrow on Saturday, as the fog moved north. | Forecasters at the BBC's Weather Centre said they were "reasonably confident" visibility would improve around Heathrow on Saturday, as the fog moved north. |
| Although Heathrow was worst affected, other airports, including Norwich, Bristol, Cardiff and Southampton, were also disrupted by fog in the past few days, with yet others suffering knock-on effects from Heathrow. | Although Heathrow was worst affected, other airports, including Norwich, Bristol, Cardiff and Southampton, were also disrupted by fog in the past few days, with yet others suffering knock-on effects from Heathrow. |
| Transport switch | |
| BBC News correspondent Ben Ando, at Heathrow, said prospects for passengers were looking better on Saturday. | |
| "The outlook here compared to yesterday is definitely brighter. People arriving here are very confident they will be able to catch their jets, certainly if they're doing medium or long-haul flights," he said. | |
| "Domestic flights are still cancelled, as are flights to Paris and Brussels from Heathrow, and that's until midday when British Airways says it will resume those ones as well." | |
| He said visibility at Heathrow was far better on Saturday morning than it was at the same time the previous day - up to 4,000 metres when it had been down to 600 metres. | |
| "It does appear at least now things are starting to get back to normal," he added. | |
| TRAVEL ADVICE British Airways customers should contact 0800 727 800 or check the www.britishairways.com website to see if their flight is still operating | |
| There is regular travel information on BBC News 24, BBC Radio Five Live and the BBC's local radio and regional TV news. | |
| This website will have updated advice and there are links to the BBC's travel and weather web sites below. Travel advice at-a-glance BBC Travel BBC Weather | |
| In all, 411 flights were cancelled on Friday. This included more than 300 flights at Heathrow, with all British Airways domestic flights scrapped. | In all, 411 flights were cancelled on Friday. This included more than 300 flights at Heathrow, with all British Airways domestic flights scrapped. |
| About 40,000 people were affected, with many having to switch to roads and rail instead. | About 40,000 people were affected, with many having to switch to roads and rail instead. |
| BA transported thousands of passengers by coach, while train firms provided extra services. | BA transported thousands of passengers by coach, while train firms provided extra services. |
| The airline will continue to lay on coach services to UK destinations on Saturday. | The airline will continue to lay on coach services to UK destinations on Saturday. |
Travel advice at-a-glance BBC Travel BBC Weather | |
| The flight cancellations came about after air traffic control placed restrictions on flights landing and taking off at Heathrow, because of the low visibility. | The flight cancellations came about after air traffic control placed restrictions on flights landing and taking off at Heathrow, because of the low visibility. |
| BAA, which runs several UK airports including Heathrow, laid on food and drink for passengers and facilities such as heated marquees, blankets, ponchos, towels and children's entertainment. | BAA, which runs several UK airports including Heathrow, laid on food and drink for passengers and facilities such as heated marquees, blankets, ponchos, towels and children's entertainment. |
| But some passengers complained about having to join the queues at Heathrow, and others were trying to sleep whilst sitting at tables. | But some passengers complained about having to join the queues at Heathrow, and others were trying to sleep whilst sitting at tables. |
| Geoff Want, BA's director of ground operations, apologised to customers and said the airline was "working around the clock" to try to get people to their destinations. | Geoff Want, BA's director of ground operations, apologised to customers and said the airline was "working around the clock" to try to get people to their destinations. |
| The airline says passengers whose flights have been cancelled are entitled to a full refund. | The airline says passengers whose flights have been cancelled are entitled to a full refund. |
| The Highways Agency has suspended more than half of its 83 roadworks, and many rail engineering works are also being delayed until Christmas. | The Highways Agency has suspended more than half of its 83 roadworks, and many rail engineering works are also being delayed until Christmas. |