Get you up to speed: Hundreds of Heathrow and Gatwick flights delayed up to 11 hours as heatwave turns to thunderstorms | News UK
Thunderstorms have delayed nearly 800 flights at Heathrow and Gatwick airports, with delays reaching up to 11 hours. FlightAware reported that 377 flights at Heathrow and 399 at Gatwick have been impacted, and further issues are expected throughout the day.
Thunderstorms are causing significant disruptions at Heathrow and Gatwick, with flight delays reported for up to 11 hours and nearly 800 flights affected overall. The Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning, indicating that conditions may worsen, with further thundery outbreaks expected in the coming days.
The UK government has activated its civil contingencies committee in response to ongoing disruptions caused by severe thunderstorms, which have significantly delayed nearly 800 flights from major airports. As storms are expected to worsen, Eurocontrol has indicated that flights will need to avoid affected areas, raising concerns about continued operational challenges for air travel in the coming days.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how many flights have been cancelled amid the ongoing disruptions.
Heathrow and Gatwick flights delayed by up to 11 hours due to thunderstorms
Thunderstorms have delayed flights from Heathrow and Gatwick for up to 11 hours.
The UK’s heatwave has turned into stormy weather delaying nearly 800 flights to and from the airports.
Dozens more have been cancelled, and air traffic control said issues were expected to continue for the rest of the day.
According to FlightAware, 377 flights arriving at or departing from Heathrow have been delayed while another 399 have been impacted in and out of Gatwick.
Arrival boards show a British Airways flight from Santiago, Chile, arriving at 9pm when it was meant to arrive at 10am.
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The delays come as storms to the south of the UK are set to worsen, with flights needing to avoid the ‘broad area of hot, unstable air’, Eurocontrol said.
A home was damaged in Crawley after a lightning strike, while the roof of a property in Streatham, South London, was destroyed in a blaze sparked by an overnight bolt.
The amber weather warning for extreme heat has been delayed again, with 33C temperatures set to continue to linger over London, the South East and East Anglia until 9pm tomorrow.