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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Heathrow passenger backlog eases | Heathrow passenger backlog eases |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The backlog of passengers at Heathrow Airport has almost been cleared with just a few dozen people still stranded. | The backlog of passengers at Heathrow Airport has almost been cleared with just a few dozen people still stranded. |
| Hotels which have accommodated hundreds of stranded passengers say most have now caught flights or returned home. | Hotels which have accommodated hundreds of stranded passengers say most have now caught flights or returned home. |
| The dense fog which caused flights to be cancelled at Heathrow has lifted and planes are operating as normal. | The dense fog which caused flights to be cancelled at Heathrow has lifted and planes are operating as normal. |
| Fog led to 86 flights being cancelled on Sunday and 60 more were cancelled on Monday because planes were in the wrong places, affecting 9,000 passengers. | Fog led to 86 flights being cancelled on Sunday and 60 more were cancelled on Monday because planes were in the wrong places, affecting 9,000 passengers. |
| The few dozen people left in hotels around Heathrow are mainly "transit passengers" who do not live nearby and are expecting to get away over the next couple of days. | |
| Fully booked | Fully booked |
| Airport operator BAA said services should now be back to normal. | Airport operator BAA said services should now be back to normal. |
| But it said all scheduled Christmas flights were now fully booked and that meant many of those originally booked onto cancelled services were now stuck. | But it said all scheduled Christmas flights were now fully booked and that meant many of those originally booked onto cancelled services were now stuck. |
| The flights cancelled from Heathrow on Monday were due to depart from terminals one and four to destinations including Newcastle, Dublin, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Paris, Brussels, Barcelona, Geneva and Berlin. | The flights cancelled from Heathrow on Monday were due to depart from terminals one and four to destinations including Newcastle, Dublin, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Paris, Brussels, Barcelona, Geneva and Berlin. |
| About 1,000 people had to spend the night at Heathrow following Sunday's cancellations. | About 1,000 people had to spend the night at Heathrow following Sunday's cancellations. |
| In fairness a lot of people understand it's not got anything to do with the airlines or the airport Greg WardAirport operator BAA Festive cheer lacking | |
| At London City Airport, the website listed one cancellation to Edinburgh, with the five others to European destinations. | At London City Airport, the website listed one cancellation to Edinburgh, with the five others to European destinations. |
| Gatwick Airport said six outgoing domestic and short-haul flights were cancelled, in addition to six incoming flights. | Gatwick Airport said six outgoing domestic and short-haul flights were cancelled, in addition to six incoming flights. |
| Stansted Airport reported being very busy, but with only minor delays. | Stansted Airport reported being very busy, but with only minor delays. |
| Airports across other parts of the UK were also largely keeping flights on schedule. | Airports across other parts of the UK were also largely keeping flights on schedule. |
| Manchester Airport said two BA flights were cancelled due to the repercussions of cancellations around London. | Manchester Airport said two BA flights were cancelled due to the repercussions of cancellations around London. |
| Four flights were also cancelled from Edinburgh Airport for the same reasons - two destined for Heathrow, one for London City Airport and one for Birmingham. | Four flights were also cancelled from Edinburgh Airport for the same reasons - two destined for Heathrow, one for London City Airport and one for Birmingham. |
| Glasgow Airport had one flight cancelled in the morning, also to Heathrow. | Glasgow Airport had one flight cancelled in the morning, also to Heathrow. |
| Greg Ward, operations director for BAA at Heathrow, told BBC News people had been upset by the cancellations but understanding about the situation. | |
| "In fairness a lot of people understand it's not got anything to do with the airlines or the airport," he said. | |
| Worst service | Worst service |
| The forecast is Christmas Day's wet whether in England and Wales to lift on Wednesday for a dry, bright and breezy day, but rain will move into Scotland and Northern Ireland. | |
| On Thursday, rain over northern England and Wales will move slowly south. | |
| Meanwhile, train companies have been criticised for not running services between Christmas Eve and Thursday. MPs have called it Europe's worst Christmas train service. | Meanwhile, train companies have been criticised for not running services between Christmas Eve and Thursday. MPs have called it Europe's worst Christmas train service. |
| They say the companies should provide some services for the 25% of Britons without access to a car. | They say the companies should provide some services for the 25% of Britons without access to a car. |
| But train companies say they would need subsidies to meet the cost of Christmas trains. | But train companies say they would need subsidies to meet the cost of Christmas trains. |