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Hopes for end to fog travel chaos Hopes for end to fog travel chaos
(about 1 hour 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 the worst affected, other airports including Norwich, Bristol, Cardiff and Southampton have also been disrupted by fog in the past few days, with yet others suffering knock-on effects from Heathrow.
Transport switchTransport switch
Heathrow managing director Mark Bullock said he was hopeful the situation at the airport would return to "some semblance of normality" on Saturday.
"The picture is a lot better than it has been. On Thursday we had 370 cancelled flights, yesterday that improved to 284, and so far today we have confirmation of 74 cancelled flights, so that's significantly better than it's been," he said.
"We're very hopeful that we can clear the backlog in time for Christmas. British Airways, for example, have been putting on larger aircraft to some of their short-haul destinations, and as of yesterday they've taken over 4,000 people by coach to their destinations and that coaching operation continues today.
"Also the railways are laying on additional train services."
Nobody wants to see passengers delayed on their journey, especially at this time of year Mark BullockHeathrow managing director
BBC News correspondent Ben Ando, at Heathrow, said prospects for passengers were looking better on Saturday.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."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.""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.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."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 operatingTRAVEL 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.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		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, including more than 300 flights at Heathrow, with all British Airways domestic services scrapped and about 40,000 people affected.
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.
The airline will continue to lay on coach services to UK destinations on Saturday.
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. BA says passengers whose flights have been cancelled are entitled to a full refund.
But some passengers complained about having to join the queues at Heathrow, and others were trying to sleep whilst sitting at tables. Mr Bullock defended the handling of the situation at Heathrow where temporary waiting areas in marquees were set up for passengers.
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. He said: "Nobody wants to see passengers delayed on their journey, especially at this time of year, and our hearts can only go out to those people who have been affected.
The airline says passengers whose flights have been cancelled are entitled to a full refund. "But what we did do on Wednesday when the weather closed in on us was put into place our contingency plans.
"We have heated marquees, we've been providing passengers with catering facilities, we've had video games, televisions and even children's entertainers."
Engineering works
Ken Gibbs from Virgin Trains said there were no problems with its services, although journeys may take longer than normal.
"We're not running any extra services. We have some engineering works - Network Rail are doing some works - so we have some diversions in place, so passengers should expect some extended journey time, I'm afraid," he said.
Brian Bannister from coach operator National Express said the weather had actually helped its services to run on time.
"It's probably been a help to us, strangely. I think it's created nice slow and steady traffic streams across the motorways," he said.
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.