Thick fog has blanketed much of the UK and Europe since Friday, severely disrupting air travel during one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year. The dense fog has led to significant delays and cancellations across major airports, stranding passengers and creating chaos for airlines.
Widespread Disruptions Across UK and Europe
From the UK to the Netherlands and Poland, airports have been grappling with low visibility, grounding flights and extending delays throughout the weekend. In the UK, airports including Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and Heathrow faced particularly severe disruptions. With visibility reduced to less than 100 meters (328 feet), more than 400 flights were either delayed or cancelled, leaving thousands of holiday travelers stranded.
Flights were delayed by up to three hours as the fog intensified on Friday, and conditions worsened on Saturday evening. Air traffic control restrictions, imposed to ensure safety, are expected to persist until Sunday, with some areas experiencing temporary flight restrictions due to the continued low visibility.
“These restrictions are in place solely to protect safety,” said NATS, the UK’s air traffic control provider. “We are working closely with airports and airlines to minimize disruptions.”
European Airports Hit Hard
Across Europe, airports in the Netherlands, including Schiphol and Eindhoven, also faced cancellations and delays, with some flights delayed for up to five hours. Kraków Airport in Poland was severely impacted, with flights to major destinations such as Istanbul, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt cancelled outright. In addition, some flights to Balice were rerouted to airports in Rzeszów, Warsaw, Ostrava, and Bratislava.
The fog extended north into Scotland, causing similar disruptions and delays for passengers heading home after the Christmas holiday. Frustration was evident as travelers faced unexpected delays, with some missing planned holidays or work commitments.
“It’s frustrating and stressful, but I overheard some families who are in a worse position than us, missing holidays and work,” said Kiera Quayle, a passenger affected by the delays. Quayle, who was traveling with her husband from the Isle of Man, added, “We’re lucky to have family to stay with, but organizing travel and accommodation has been a challenge.”
UK Weather Outlook and Further Travel Concerns
In the UK, the Met Office has urged travelers to allow extra time to reach their destinations, as conditions were expected to improve gradually over the weekend. Senior forecaster Craig Snell noted that while fog should begin to lift in some areas by Sunday, the weather is forecast to worsen again by New Year’s Eve.
A major Arctic blast, dubbed a “bomb cyclone,” is expected to bring freezing temperatures, icy conditions, and whiteout conditions to much of the UK, including England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. This will likely cause further travel disruptions for the first week of January, as the region braces for several days of extreme winter weather.
With more challenges ahead, holidaymakers are urged to monitor weather updates and check flight statuses before traveling.
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