Hundreds of flights have been canceled or delayed as severe weather has struck the United Kingdom this weekend. This follows warmer-than-usual temperatures as Europe grapples with a historical heatwave. As reported by the BBC, almost a thousand flights have been affected by the country’s two busiest airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London Gatwick Airport (LGW).

Inbound and outbound services to these two key airports have been delayed for up to half a day, with dozens more canceled. This has been a result of severe thunderstorms that are thrashing the British capital. The UK air traffic control service, NATS, has warned that these adverse weather conditions have affected flights and require flights to be spaced apart, adding to congestion at the airport.

Passengers Are Advised To Check The Status Of Their Flight Before Heading To The Airport

Credit: Shutterstock

As a precaution, both Heathrow and Gatwick airports have recommended that passengers check with their airline and the status of their flights before heading to the airport in case their service may be disrupted. As at 8:00 AM GMT, the below number of flights have been disrupted as per BBC:

A look at the European-wide flight radar, Eurocontrol, notes that the most severe areas affected on the continent are those of England and north-western Europe, as thick storm clouds have blanketed the region and disrupted air services. It appears that the majority of other UK airports remain otherwise unaffected. NATS released this statement on Saturday afternoon:

“Severe thunderstorms across the south east of England and Europe continue to impact flights, and this is expected to continue for the remainder of today and overnight.

To ensure the safety of the travelling public, aircraft need to avoid affected areas and be spaced further apart, which limits the number of flights that can operate safely.

We understand disruption is frustrating, but we’re working closely with airlines and airports to reduce disruption as much as possible.”

Thunderstorms Have Affected Almost 1,000 Flights To And From London

Credit: Shutterstock

With a large number of flights disrupted, passengers are encouraged to be patient at the airport as airlines look to adjust schedules accordingly. The airports have faced challenging conditions on Saturday, which have resulted in a large number of displaced or delayed passengers. The airspace is expected to clear on Sunday.

Thunderstorms are expected in mainland Europe on Sunday, which could have additional effects on other flights as the weekend goes on. This weekend, the UK recorded its hottest ever temperature in the month of June, with Suffolk reaching 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37.3 degrees Celsius) on Friday.

Eurocontrol noted that the broad stretch of hot, unstable air is currently stretching from Spain to Sweden, and as a result, this is likely to create additional storm clouds overnight, and there is a large level of uncertainty as to whether and when additional thunderstorms could develop.

Passengers Stranded As Flight Disruptions Hit

Credit: Shutterstock

Reports of passengers being stranded due to flight disruptions have left travelers scrambling for options. A passenger, as reported by the BBC, was stranded in Venice after his flight to London Gatwick was canceled. The service was expected to depart at lunchtime, but on Saturday, delays had already surpassed four hours.

Due to air traffic control restrictions being in place for the safe operation of these services, this will mean that travelers are unable to claim under EC 261 as the carriers are legally exempt from paying this compensation when the delays or cancellations are caused by air traffic control, which is outside of their control, and these situations are considered as extraordinary circumstances.

Airlines have apologized for the inconvenience caused by the disruption, and British Airways noted that it has already made several scheduled adjustments for Sunday to support the backlog that was produced by adverse conditions that occurred on Saturday.