London weather: Flights grounded at Heathrow and London City Airport as thick fog sparks travel chaos for third day

Poor weather conditions: A plane takes off through thick fog at Heathrow (file photo)
Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
Hatty Collier30 December 2016

Thick fog caused a third day of travel misery for air passengers with dozens of flights out of London’s major airports cancelled or delayed.

Heathrow airport had cancelled approximately 30 flights by 9.30am on Friday after a blanket of fog shrouded the capital for a third day running and caused poor visibility.

Up to 26 flights at London City Airport were cancelled, delayed or diverted by 10.30am, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded.

Flights at Gatwick airport were delayed for more than an hour but none were cancelled, according to the live departure board on its website.

London weather: Thick fog shrouds the capital for a third day as people cross the Millennium Bridge
PA

The thick fog was causing delays of up to 45 minutes in London airspace and visibility at Heathrow was reported to be as low as 150 metres.

A Heathrow Airport spokesman said: "Heathrow is still in heavy fog, which is expected to continue into the afternoon. As of 9.30am, approximately 30 flights have been cancelled.

“Our advice to passengers is to check the status of their flight with their airline before coming to the airport."

London Fog: 29 December 2016

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The Met Office said "freezing fog" had settled in patches of the country and poor visibility could persist into Friday afternoon.

Met meteorologist Emma Sillitoe said: "The main thing we have had is large, dense freezing fog patches.

"People driving around in the morning should take care on the roads."

Visibility could be as low as 100 yards (metres) and ice could develop on the roads, she added.

On Friday morning, 17 people were injured when a coach driving through thick fog veered off a motorway slip road in Oxfordshire.

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