Snow, ice, and freezing fog have blanketed the United Kingdom, causing airport delays and cancellations on Monday.
Due to the terrible weather, Gatwick and Stansted airports stopped their runways on Sunday.
Since then, flights have resumed, but many have been canceled or delayed.
Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of England, and portions of Wales are under a yellow weather warning, with disruptions expected to continue.
Trains have also been delayed, and drivers have been cautioned to exercise caution, as a result of multiple highway incidents.
Before departing for airports in the United Kingdom, passengers are recommended to confirm their travel plans and flight status with their airline.
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, a total of 316 flights were canceled across Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Glasgow, Belfast International, and Bristol airports over the weekend, or almost 11% of all booked flights.
Before Monday lunchtime, around 37 flights were canceled from Gatwick, with EasyJet being the worst-affected airline.
Additionally, more than forty planes were canceled at Stansted.
London City Airport reported “some inconvenience this morning” as a result of planes being out of position following a “large number of cancellations” on Sunday evening.
Edmund O’Leary told that he was stranded in Malta after British Airways twice canceled his return flight to Gatwick.
He stated that he hoped to know by Monday evening when he could return to the United Kingdom.
Although he felt communication had been inadequate, he reported that the British Airways ground staff was quite helpful in arranging accommodations for passengers on Sunday night.
Heathrow and Gatwick airports impacted
On Monday, around 50 flights were canceled at Heathrow due to air traffic control restrictions imposed over the weekend due to freezing fog that limited the number of planes that could land and depart every hour.
A spokesman advised travelers to contact their airline for the most up-to-date flight status information.
British Airways, the largest airline at Heathrow, apologized to its customers, refunded or rebooked those whose flights were canceled, and provided refreshments and hotel vouchers where necessary.
Due to snowfall, one of Gatwick Airport’s runways was temporarily closed at 17:55 GMT on Sunday and reopened at 20:00 when conditions were deemed safe.
On Monday, it was reported that the airport was still experiencing delays and cancellations, and travelers were asked to contact their airlines directly.
A spokeswoman for London Luton Airport warned that there could be flight delays and recommended travelers arrive at the airport with additional time.
Some customers criticized airlines on Sunday for their lack of information regarding flight cancellations.
Others reported being unable to deplane because of the icy weather.
Transport disruptions
On Sunday, several traffic collisions occurred as a result of heavy snowfall and hazardous road conditions.
On Monday morning, the AA advised drivers to adapt their driving to the frigid temperatures.
The company’s president, Edmund King, stated that the number of breakdown calls was around 25 percent greater than usual.
“The conditions demonstrate the need of being prepared when driving,” he stated.
He recommended motorists check their fuel levels and bring warm clothing, a charged cell phone, and food and beverages.
Sam told that she and her family had been stranded in their vehicle for more than eight hours without food and with only a small bottle of water on a difficult journey from London to Thame, Oxfordshire.
The family left the O2 Centre in London at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday after attending the Jingle Bell Ball and had not exited their vehicle while driving down the M11 and M25 since then.
National Highways has announced that the portion of the M25 between junctions 23 and 25 that was closed in both directions has reopened.
However, around 11 miles of congestion remain in the counterclockwise route, the report noted.
According to the organization, other highways in the region experiencing significant delays include the M11, M2, A21, A27, and A249.
The weather has also disrupted train tracks around the country.
Southeastern Railways has dropped its advisory against rail travel today. However, customers are recommended to review their routes before departure.
Meanwhile, Avanti West Coast reported some last-minute cancellations due to inclement weather and unwell employees.
Until the end of the day, there will be no trains between Wrexham Central and Bidston.
In addition, the Met Office has issued a new ice warning for the East Midlands, the east of England, London, and the southeast of England.
“Lying snow and ice areas will create hazardous travel conditions Monday through Tuesday,” it reads.
