London weather: freezing fog sees hundreds of flights cancelled at Heathrow and City Airports

Mark Chandler23 January 2017

London’s air passengers were being warned of travel chaos on Monday morning as thick fog saw 100 flights cancelled at Heathrow.

The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning for London, south-east England and parts of south-west England over dense, freezing fog that is likely to hit the morning rush hour.

In England a low of minus 6.2C (21F) was recorded in Northolt, around 10 miles from Heathrow. Visibility on the tarmac at Heathrow airport was down to just 100 metres.

Heathrow airport warned passengers to check their flight details before they leave home.

Thick fog obscures the tarmac at Heathrow airport this morning
@Planenews_777

A message on the airport's website said: "Foggy weather across London is expected on Monday, 23 January, and some passengers may experience disruption to their journey as a result.

"Heathrow advises passengers to check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport.

Mayhem: Flights from all of London's airports have been affected
@Planenews_777

"Heathrow's top priority is the safety of passengers and we apologise to those whose travel has been affected."

One hundred flights have been cancelled at Heathrow due to fog
Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

Around 100 flights were axed from the flight schedule by 7am due to the low visibility, meaning planes were not able to take off every 45 seconds as usual.

London City airport said there were around 15 flight cancellations by 6.45am, with others being delayed.

@Planenews_777

A spokeswoman said: “Passengers due to travel are advised to contact their airline for the latest information.

“You can also keep an eye on the live departures info on our website.”

At Gatwick airport, only one flight had been cancelled by 7.30am but travellers were warned there could be delays to others throughout the morning and passengers should check with their airlines.

Traveller Quintin Young said he had been warned his EasyJet flight from Gatwick to Glasgow was facing delays of two-and-a-half hours.

He told the Standard: “It’s a nightmare. I don’t know if anything’s flying.

“On my way here you couldn’t even see out of the train, the fog was so dense. There seems to be slight confusion about what’s really happening.”

A Stansted Airport spokeswoman said there had not been any cancellations, but advised passengers to check with their airlines for the latest information and allow enough time to get to the airport.

A yellow warning of fog is in place until 10.30am, but freezing temperatures and low winds could see it persist into the afternoon, Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson said.

"Heathrow is currently on 100 metres visibility which is very dense fog, Gatwick is on 100 metres, London City Airport is on 100 metres and Stansted is on 100 metres," he said.

"It looks like it will generally improve through the last part of the morning and into the afternoon, but one or two spots will hang on to fog for much of the rest of today."

Road users are also being warned of difficult driving conditions after freezing conditions overnight.

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