Heathrow Flight Cancellations Due to Fog Impact Travel
Air traffic flow restrictions imposed due to morning fog at Heathrow, one of the UK’s busiest airports, led to the cancellation of over 20 flights on Saturday, May 18, 2024. British Airways bore the brunt of the impact, grounding 18 flights, including domestic departures to Edinburgh and Glasgow. European destinations such as Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Geneva, Gothenburg, Faro, and Dublin also experienced flight cancellations.
Other airlines were also affected, with Aer Lingus canceling a Dublin-Heathrow round-trip, Air France canceling its 9am flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Lufthansa grounding its 9.30am departure to Frankfurt. These flights often carry connecting passengers for long-haul journeys, some of whom were accommodated on earlier departures.
Passengers affected by these cancellations are entitled to rebooking on any airline that can offer same-day travel to their destination. Airlines are also responsible for providing meals and accommodation if required. British Airways expressed regret for the disruptions, attributed to poor visibility and air traffic control restrictions at Heathrow. The airline’s teams were actively working to minimize inconvenience and facilitate passenger travel.
Inbound aircraft also faced extended holding patterns, with American Airlines flight 50 from Dallas-Fort Worth being one such example. Despite being 20 miles south of Heathrow at 6.54am, it was unable to land for over half an hour due to the slot restrictions.
The incident highlights the challenges of airport management, particularly during adverse weather conditions. Heathrow’s management had previously criticized government plans requiring international transit passengers to apply for online permits and pay a fee, raising concerns about passenger convenience and travel efficiency.
