Heathrow Cancels Flights Due to Strong Winds Interfering with Holiday Travel

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Heathrow Cancels Flights Due to Strong Winds Interfering with Holiday Travel

Millions of passengers are travelling home for the Christmas holidays but, boosted by gusts of wind, the UK is experiencing flight disruptions, with Heathrow canceling some 100 flights for Sunday. The weather has also resulted in the shut down of ferry services all over the Irish Sea and along the Scottish coastline, road blocks for high vehicles, and suspension of rail transport, which has added more hardships to those who want to travel during this festive season.


The Met Office issued a yellow warning for ice in northeastern Scotland, which remains in effect until 10:in increased travel disruption by bringing problems to Heathrow from 00 GMT on Monday. Some regions of the United Kingdom received winds between 50 and 60 mph; higher velocities of 70mph were recorded over exposed coastal areas and hills. South Uist in the Western Isles beat this with 82mph on Saturday, giving rise to fear for travelers this season.


Europe’s busiest airport, Heathrow, says it cancelled about 100 flights on Sunday, with most being operated by British Airways. The airline’s spokesperson cited “adverse weather” and “restrictions” on air traffic, which led to the cancellations. Possibly, observers have noted that Cancelled flights were many for a Sunday, about 15,000 passengers.


Heathrow spokesman Simon Calder said the strong winds changed the arrival pattern of the planes as they have to reduce the rates of arrival, which occur every 80seconds. This adjustment resulted in the cancellation of a lot of these flights.


Heathrow later announced that the flights had been cancelled by its airlines due to strong winds and airspace limitations, with a message to passengers to contact the respective airlines for the latest information. For their part, British Airways has assured customers who are booked on short-haul services that they are free to change their flight or not to travel this weekend. They also promised rebooking and refund options for those whose flights were disrupted.


National Air Traffic Services (NATs), which provides air traffic control for the UK, confirmed that temporary air traffic restrictions were in place at Heathrow due to the adverse weather. NATs stated that such restrictions are implemented only when necessary to ensure safety.


The weather-related travel disruptions come at a time when many people are already traveling in large numbers to celebrate the holidays with their families. The continued weather conditions, including gusty winds and icy roads, are expected to cause further challenges as the festive period approaches. Passengers are advised to remain vigilant and check their flight and travel information before setting off.

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