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Heathrow Airport: Snow causes more flight delays | |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Passengers at Heathrow Airport have faced further delays with at least 300 flights, more than a fifth, cancelled as more snow fell in London. | Passengers at Heathrow Airport have faced further delays with at least 300 flights, more than a fifth, cancelled as more snow fell in London. |
The disruption is set to continue into Monday as the west London airport said it would reduce its capacity by 10%, about 130 fewer flights. | The disruption is set to continue into Monday as the west London airport said it would reduce its capacity by 10%, about 130 fewer flights. |
Many passengers complained about a lack of information from the authorities. | Many passengers complained about a lack of information from the authorities. |
All flights from London City Airport were suspended after the airport closed its runway on Sunday morning. | All flights from London City Airport were suspended after the airport closed its runway on Sunday morning. |
Space between aircraft | Space between aircraft |
The airport had said earlier it was clearing the runway, but attempts to operate flights were abandoned. | The airport had said earlier it was clearing the runway, but attempts to operate flights were abandoned. |
It said it expected to resume a normal service on Monday and advised passengers to contact their airlines. | It said it expected to resume a normal service on Monday and advised passengers to contact their airlines. |
Between 2-6cm of snow was forecast for Sunday - meaning poor visibility and reducing capacity, Heathrow Airport said. | Between 2-6cm of snow was forecast for Sunday - meaning poor visibility and reducing capacity, Heathrow Airport said. |
Speaking about Monday's cancellations, an airport spokesman said: "It is possible that weather conditions at other European airports will increase the number of cancellations. | Speaking about Monday's cancellations, an airport spokesman said: "It is possible that weather conditions at other European airports will increase the number of cancellations. |
"When there is low visibility, more space has to be left between aircraft. | "When there is low visibility, more space has to be left between aircraft. |
"Because Heathrow operates at almost full capacity, there is simply no room to reschedule the delayed flights." | "Because Heathrow operates at almost full capacity, there is simply no room to reschedule the delayed flights." |
BA said it had to cancel 20% of its scheduled flights on Sunday to "keep the airport running smoothly". | BA said it had to cancel 20% of its scheduled flights on Sunday to "keep the airport running smoothly". |
'Adjust plans' | 'Adjust plans' |
Terminal 5 was operating "as normal" with teams on standby to clear snow. | Terminal 5 was operating "as normal" with teams on standby to clear snow. |
Since Friday more than 500 flights have been cancelled from Heathrow Airport - 111 on Saturday and about 400 on Friday. | Since Friday more than 500 flights have been cancelled from Heathrow Airport - 111 on Saturday and about 400 on Friday. |
The cancellations led to hundreds of passengers spending Friday night in the airport. | The cancellations led to hundreds of passengers spending Friday night in the airport. |
Many also complained about being kept on board aircraft for several hours awaiting take-off and then being unable to collect their luggage. | Many also complained about being kept on board aircraft for several hours awaiting take-off and then being unable to collect their luggage. |
Air France, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa and TAP Portugal flights were affected. | Air France, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa and TAP Portugal flights were affected. |
Snow began falling in London at about 09:00 GMT on Sunday. | Snow began falling in London at about 09:00 GMT on Sunday. |
The airport said low visibility had led to it reducing its capacity to avoid further disruption. | The airport said low visibility had led to it reducing its capacity to avoid further disruption. |
The west London airport came under severe criticism in the winter of 2010 over its failure to cope with snow after it was shut for days. | The west London airport came under severe criticism in the winter of 2010 over its failure to cope with snow after it was shut for days. |
Following that the airport spent £36m on extra snow clearing vehicles, including 10 runway sweepers, 26 tractor ploughs and 19 specialist de-icing vehicles, and increased staffing to deal with extreme winter conditions. | Following that the airport spent £36m on extra snow clearing vehicles, including 10 runway sweepers, 26 tractor ploughs and 19 specialist de-icing vehicles, and increased staffing to deal with extreme winter conditions. |
Trains delayed | Trains delayed |
But this time the situation is different, said a spokeswoman. "The runways are open and everything is fine at the moment because passengers have had more time to check flights with their airline," she said. | But this time the situation is different, said a spokeswoman. "The runways are open and everything is fine at the moment because passengers have had more time to check flights with their airline," she said. |
"In 2010, the airport was almost completely closed for several days. This is not the same at all. | "In 2010, the airport was almost completely closed for several days. This is not the same at all. |
"We took a lot of learning from 2010 and invested heavily." | "We took a lot of learning from 2010 and invested heavily." |
BA has already apologised to customers, adding it was doing everything it could to help those whose flights have been disrupted by the weather. | BA has already apologised to customers, adding it was doing everything it could to help those whose flights have been disrupted by the weather. |
On the trains, signal problems at Ealing Broadway has resulted in delays of up to 45 minutes on the First Great Western, Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect. | On the trains, signal problems at Ealing Broadway has resulted in delays of up to 45 minutes on the First Great Western, Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect. |
There are delays of 30 minutes on First capital Connect and of 15 minutes on Southeastern trains. | There are delays of 30 minutes on First capital Connect and of 15 minutes on Southeastern trains. |
On Sunday morning four Eurostar trains were cancelled and there are delays of about half-an-hour on all trains. | On Sunday morning four Eurostar trains were cancelled and there are delays of about half-an-hour on all trains. |
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FogLight HeavyFrostLight HeavyPressure FrontsCold Warm OccludedRainLight Heavy ExtremeSnowLight Heavy | Map Key
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Temperature tab only | Temperature tab only |
Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather | Temperature (°C)More details from BBC Weather |