SNOW UPDATE: Flight delays to continue until Christmas Eve

Snow update: Monday December 20 at 11.30

Thousands of passengers trying to get on flights out of the UK have been told it could be several more days before they can escape the big freeze as airports struggle to get aircraft back in the air.

British Airways has cancelled most flights out of Heathrow and is urging passengers not to travel to the airport before checking the status of their flight.

Only one of Heathrow’s two runways is operating and many areas of the airfield remain unusable including areas around parked aircraft.

“The airport owner, BAA, is continuing to clear large amounts of snow and ice from the airfield but based on current icy conditions and forecast of further bad weather, we expect this process to take some time,” said a BA statement.

“The airport is therefore likely to be operating at significantly reduced capacity for several days.”

BA said it was planning to operate as many longhaul flights as possible today, but warned there will be some cancellations due to the difficult conditions at the airport.

“We are operating a small number of shorthaul flights this morning but due to the severe restrictions to flights at the Airport all shorthaul flights after 1200 have been cancelled,” it said.

“We would urge customers not to travel to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking on one of the flights that is operating.”

Customers who are travelling from Heathrow, whose travel is not essential, are encouraged to cancel their flight, in return for a full refund, or to consider changing their flight to another date over the next 12 months.

At Gatwick and London City, BA said it is aiming to run as many flights as possible, although there is a reduced operation as a result of the weather disruption.

Bmi has cancelled 30 flights to and from Heathrow today.

Virgin Atlantic yesterday warned it would be another 24-48 hours before its schedule was back to normal at Heathrow.

Bournemouth Airport is closed until at least 1400.

The Association of Independent Tour Operators said the lack of preparation by airport authorities was “nothing short of a scandal”.

“In 2010 it cannot be beyond the means of so-called world class airports like Heathrow to have contingency plans in place to cope with snowfalls,” said John Tangney, chairman of AITO’s Aviation Committee.

“Volcanic ash clouds are one thing, but snow arrives every year and cannot be deemed a surprise to any competent airport operator.

“With only two runways to clear in addition to the taxiways, there is no excuse for this level of ineptitude at Heathrow.

“Our clients have worked hard over the course of the year to enjoy their holidays at Christmas and are being let down by poor planning.”

He said AITO members have spent the entire weekend rerouting and rescheduling passengers who were booked to travel and these passengers are fortunate to have booked with a tour operator.

“Anybody who has made their own travel arrangements are on their own and now have to rebook flights, car-hire and hotel accommodation, not an appealing prospect for stressed travellers.”

Do you have a snow story to tell? Are your clients stranded? Were you flat out at the weekend trying to help clients? Will you get home for Christmas? Let us know by clicking ‘Add a comment’ below.

By Linsey McNeill and Bev Fearis