Fog has caused significant disruption at major airports across the UK, including London Gatwick, Heathrow, and Manchester, leading to delays and cancellations.
The widespread fog, which has affected much of the country in recent days, is complicating travel plans as airports work to return to normal operations after the Christmas holiday rush.
At Gatwick, many flights were delayed by one to three hours on Friday, with disruption expected to continue into the evening.
Similar delays have been reported at Manchester Airport, where travelers are urged to check with airlines before heading to the airport due to air traffic restrictions.
Heathrow Airport also saw some cancellations and delays, particularly for British Airways flights.
A spokesperson for NATS, the UK’s air traffic control service, confirmed that temporary air traffic restrictions were in place at several airports to ensure safety due to the poor visibility caused by the fog.
The restrictions are intended to manage the flow of air traffic, and NATS has been closely monitoring the situation, working with airports and airlines to minimize delays.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated that dozens of outbound flights were canceled on Friday, while hundreds more were delayed across various airports, including Manchester, Glasgow, and Cardiff. Inbound flights were also affected.
One traveler, Irem, faced a seven-hour delay on her flight from Germany to Manchester due to the fog. “It’s been a bit of a nightmare,” she said, explaining the cramped conditions at Cologne Airport while waiting to board. Despite the delay, she remained hopeful about joining her family in North Wales for the holidays.
On the ground, National Highways reported minimal impact on the UK’s motorways and A-roads due to the fog but reminded drivers to use dipped headlights and demisters for safety.
The fog, caused by a slow-moving area of high pressure, has created stagnant conditions that are expected to lift over the weekend as the weather system moves away.
Saturday is forecast to start with more mist and fog, particularly in England and Wales, but conditions should improve by the afternoon, with some sunny spells expected. By Sunday, clearer skies are anticipated, with strong winds likely to reduce fog and bring rain to parts of Scotland.
