British Airways: hoping for better weather for the rest of the week.

Passengers, airlines and airports across the UK all suffered major flight cancellations and delays yesterday, after snow and freezing conditions gripped the UK in one of the worst snap freezes to hit the country in the last four years.

Airports affected by the weather included the UK’s big two at Heathrow and Gatwick, where British Airways and some other carriers have agreed with the UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS) to reduce today’s schedule, in an effort to try and catch up with the backlog.

British Airways said: “As a result of the forecast we have agreed with Heathrow Airport, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and other airlines to reduce our flight schedule from Heathrow on Monday December 11.”

THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS IMPACTED

This follows the cancellation of more than 160 flights at Heathrow Airport yesterday and more than 60 today, which is said to translate into between 13,000 to 15,000 passengers. The airport was packed as passengers backed up waiting for news of flights.

Freezing rain followed by snow was blamed for yesterday’s serious disruption at many UK airports, which also saw some arriving flights diverted to regional UK airports and some based on the continent. These temporary ‘reliever airports’ included Paris CDG, Cardiff, Bournemouth and others – due to the inaccessible runways in the UK.

British Airways will be hoping for weather like this at Heathrow, as opposed to the freezing conditions experienced over the last few days.

In a statement today, British Airways said: “ Heathrow is continuing to experience severe adverse weather conditions. As a result of the forecast of continued bad weather we have agreed with Heathrow Airport, National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and other airlines to reduce our flight schedule from Heathrow on Monday December 11.”

BA added: “Safety is always our priority, and as temperatures remain low, we are having to de-ice every individual aircraft before it departs.

BA APOLOGISES…

“We are very sorry for the difficulties caused by the poor weather. We have brought in additional staff who are re-booking customers onto the next available flights and offering hotel accommodation for those who require it. Our teams around the world are working around the clock, doing all they can to help customers and to get flights away.”

Heathrow Airport also stated: “Some flights at Heathrow will be disrupted today due to crew and aircraft being out of position following yesterday’s weather.”

Other airports that were adversely affected yesterday which may well suffer more delays today include Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow; London City, Luton, Manchester, Southend and London Stansted.