Heathrow to take two more days to get back to normal
Latest update: Tuesday 10:30
Heathrow has published on its website a full list of flights due to operate today after admitting that its operations will not get back to normal until Thursday, at the earliest.
The airport says if a flight is not on the list, it is ‘unlikely’ to operate, but passengers are being urged to check with their airline. Even those passengers whose flights are listed are being advised to double-check their status with the airline.
A Heathrow spokesman said "Further snow is forecast across Europe today and there may be further delays and cancellations."
The airport’s south runway will remain closed throughout Tuesday and a reduced schedule will operate at least until 06:00 on Thursday.
British Airways has made a significant number of cancellations at Heathrow today, especially to its shorthaul programme, although it said it expected to operate the majority of its flights from Gatwick and London City.
EasyJet has taken the unprecedented step of allowing passengers who have been disrupted to transfer free of charge their return flights any UK airport served by the airline, until January 3.
Passengers who take up this offer will have to make their own travel arrangements from the alternative airport.
The airline said it hoped to operate 85% of its flying programme yesterday but delays and cancellations over the weekend and on Monday meant it has already had to provide overnight accommodation for 36,000 stranded passengers.
Several airports across the UK warned passengers to expect further delays and cancellations today. These include Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Southampton.
Flight disruption is expected to continue for the rest of the week as weather forecasters say there is unlikely to be any let up in the freezing conditions until Boxing Day.
Heathrow Airport told Channel 4 news this morning that a full investigation of how the airport responded to the bad weather and chief executive Colin Matthews promised that new equipment would be bought, if necessary.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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