Hundreds of Heathrow and Gatwick flights delayed due to thunderstorms

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Hundreds of Heathrow and Gatwick flights delayed due to thunderstormsImage source, In pictures/Getty ImagesImage caption, Flights are delayed at Gatwick and Heathrow, with multiple airlines affected (file picture of Gatwick)ByEwan SomervillePublished12 minutes agoFlights at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been delayed for up to six hours as the heatwave turns to thunderstorms. More than 600 flights have been delayed in and out of the two travel hubs and dozens more cancelled, many due to the stormy weather. The UK's air traffic control service said delays were expected to continue for the rest of the day.

Some passengers have taken to social media to express their frustration, with one saying her daughter had been stuck on an Easyjet plane at Gatwick for four hours before it was cancelled. Gatwick told News that temporary air traffic control restrictions had been put in place and Easyjet apologised for the disruption. A total of 340 flights arriving at or departing from Heathrow have been delayed so far on Saturday, according to tracker FlightAware, and 320 in and out of Gatwick.

The Details

Europe-wide aviation agency Eurocontrol says Heathrow and Gatwick are the only two UK airports currently facing "heavy" delays related to the thunderstorm. Delays to affected flights vary, but Gatwick's live departure board shows an Easyjet flight to Antalya delayed from 11:50 BST to 18:00. Other flights have been delayed by four hours, with airlines including British Airways at Heathrow affected.

Eurocontrol shows the most severe air traffic control delays in airspace between south-east England and north-western Europe, where the storm clouds currently are. However, flights travelling on flight paths outside of the storm area are still leaving and arriving on time. Passengers grounded for hoursNATS, the UK's air traffic control service, said "weather disruption was expected to continue through the rest of the day" after "forecasted severe weather across the south east of England".

A London Gatwick spokesperson told News: "Due to ongoing thunderstorms across the network last night, temporary air traffic restrictions were put in place, which resulted in some flights being delayed and cancelled this morning. "Easyjet said in a statement: "Due to thunderstorms in the south of the UK which is restricting the number of arrivals and departures today, like other airlines we are experiencing some disruption to our flying programme and have had to pre-emptively cancel some flights to and from Gatwick in advance. "We are doing all possible to minimise the impact of the weather disruption for our customers and are notifying passengers in advance with their options to rebook or receive a refund as well as hotel accommodation and meals where required.

"The airline said the delays were outside of its control but it was sorry for the inconvenience caused.

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