Thunderstorms Delay Hundreds of Flights at Heathrow and Gatwick, FlightAware Tracks 484 Delays

Hundreds of flights into and out of London’s Gatwick and Heathrow were delayed on Saturday as thunderstorms hit the UK, with FlightAware tracking 484 inbound and outbound delays across the two airports by the evening.

“- Published Hundreds of flights at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been delayed as the UK's air traffic control service warned disruption is expected to continue into Sunday”

BBC

The Independent reported that Heathrow had 42 per cent of its flights delayed and Gatwick 50 per cent, while NATS said disruption could continue overnight into Sunday.

BBC

BBC News said more than 900 inbound and outbound flights at the two travel hubs were delayed for up to 11 hours and dozens were cancelled, with NATS warning aircraft needed to avoid affected areas and be spaced further apart.

The BBC also said more than 474 flights arriving at or departing from Heathrow had been delayed so far on Saturday, and another 439 in and out of Gatwick, as storm clouds affected airspace between south-east England and north-western Europe.

Passengers described being stranded and frustrated as delays stretched into hours, including one person who berated British Airways on X about Terminal 5 customer service and sweltering conditions.

The London Evening Standard quoted one affected passenger, Adam Joseph, 29, telling BBC News that he had been stranded at Venice airport in Italy without air conditioning because his flight to Gatwick had been delayed by over four hours.

LBC

In the BBC’s account, Joseph said, "We are also being told that even in the event of a four-hour-plus delay, because of an air traffic control restriction, we will not be entitled to compensation," while adding, "People are very angry … we have had no communication from [British Airways] whatsoever."

The BBC reported British Airways said in a statement that it had to make some adjustments due to air traffic control restrictions caused by adverse weather conditions affecting parts of UK airspace, while EasyJet said it had to pre-emptively cancel some flights to and from Gatwick in advance.

The disruption came as an amber warning for extreme heat was extended, with the warning covering the East and South East running until 9am on Sunday, and Friday confirmed by the Met Office as the UK’s hottest June day on record.

“At least 377 flights arriving at or departing from Heathrow have been hit with delays on Saturday, according to tracker FlightAware, as well as 399 in and out of Gatwick”

London Evening Standard

The Independent said a provisional temperature of 37.3C was recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, surpassing the high of 36.7C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday, and that the record-breaking hot spell was coming to a close as parts of the UK transitioned to more of a westerly influence.

NATS told The Independent that severe thunderstorms across the South East of England and Europe continued to impact flights and was expected to continue for the remainder of today and overnight, while the BBC said the forecast in UK airspace looked generally fine on Sunday but further thunderstorms were forecast in Europe.

With the stormy weather continuing to affect routings, the BBC said FlightAware data showed at least 367 flights due to land or take off from Heathrow were delayed on Saturday and 352 in and out of Gatwick, as passengers were advised to check flight status with airlines before travelling.