Flight cancellations at London airport cause disruption to passenger travel

Thousands of passengers were left stranded in airport lounges as two airports suspended flights.

Heathrow and Gatwick airports have cancelled more than 32 flights, affecting passengers on EasyJet and British Airways.

Bad weather and air traffic control problems have been cited as reasons for the travel chaos, with more than 10,000 passengers sleeping in airports and left with no way home.

EasyJet passengers hoping for a refund will be disappointed to know they are unlikely to get their money back as the air traffic control restrictions are being considered “extraordinary circumstances”.

Passengers flying to and from destinations including Lanzarote, Budapest, Venice, Belfast, Edinburgh, Rome, Naples, Barcelona and Larnaca have all been affected.

Ryanair also issued a statement: “ATC services, which did not benefit from any disruption due to a strike by French ATC staff this summer, continue to underperform with repeated ‘staff shortages’.

“We apologise to our passengers for these repeated flight delays due to air traffic control, which are deeply regrettable but beyond Ryanair’s control.”

A passenger wrote on X that his flight was cancelled after he arrived at the Gatwick gate.

Phil said: “After an hour’s delay we were told the crew were out of hours. We were left stranded.”

Yesterday, Gatwick Airport wrote on X: “Bad weather, including numerous thunderstorms, in the UK and much of Europe is causing delays at the airport this afternoon.

“London Gatwick would like to apologise to all passengers whose journeys have been impacted.”

Some passengers have shared their experiences of spending four hours sitting on the tarmac at Gatwick Airport due to bad weather.

A plane flying from Stuttgart to Heathrow was struck by lightning yesterday, forcing it to divert to Gatwick Airport.

Passenger Jeco, who shared a picture of the lightning on X, said: “The crew were amazing when our flight was struck by lightning on approach to Heathrow.

“It was shocking. The flight had to be diverted to Gatwick.”

According to the U.S. National Weather Service, commercial airliners are struck by lightning once or twice a year.

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