Severe weather and the resulting air traffic control restrictions have caused flight cancellations at London Gatwick and Heathrow airports, leaving passengers facing travel disruption. Airlines, including Easyjet, have cited thunderstorms as the cause for the grounding of flights, forcing many travelers to seek refunds or alternative transport.
Why are flights being cancelled at London airports?
The primary cause of the current disruption is a series of thunderstorms that have impacted flight paths. According to a spokesperson for London Gatwick Airport, "temporary air traffic restrictions" were implemented "due to ongoing thunderstorms across the network last night". Similarly, a Heathrow Airport spokesperson confirmed that "adverse weather conditions" led to "temporary air traffic restrictions impacting some flights".
These restrictions are part of a wider issue reported by Eurocontrol, which identified a "broad area of hot, unstable air" stretching from northern Spain to southern Sweden. This weather pattern has created a "large degree of uncertainty" regarding when and where storm clouds will develop, making it difficult for flight planners to maintain standard schedules.
Passenger experiences during the disruption
Travelers have reported challenges when attempting to rebook or manage travel plans during the weather event. Will Poole, an Easyjet passenger, told the BBC that his flight to the Greek island of Skiathos was cancelled after he had already boarded at Gatwick. After being returned to the gate, he was offered a replacement flight departing from Bristol Airport—more than 100 miles away—the following day.
Poole stated that he ultimately cancelled his holiday because Easyjet could not get them on another flight within a 12-hour window. He noted that while he understood the situation was out of Easyjet’s control, the lack of clarity regarding hotel accommodations and transfer arrangements added to the frustration.
Airline policies and passenger rights
In response to the disruption, Easyjet issued a statement confirming that affected passengers were being given options including refunds, re-bookings, hotel accommodation and meals where required. Regarding the specific case of Mr. Poole, an Easyjet spokesperson said, "We’re really sorry that Mr. Poole had to cancel his holiday with us due to weather disruption affecting his flight," and confirmed that he would receive a full refund as the company could not find an alternative flight suitable for his travel plans.
What happens next for travelers?
The disruption is expected to persist. An amber warning for extreme heat has been in place until Sunday morning for parts of eastern and south-east England, while thunderstorms to the south of the UK are forecast to worsen throughout Saturday afternoon.
Travelers are advised to check the status of their flights directly with their airline before arriving at the airport.