LONDON – London Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, said it plans to reduce its flight schedule by at least 20 percent Sunday because of snow.
Weather conditions at other airports in Europe may increase the disruption, Heathrow said in an e-mailed statement.
Heathrow said 100 flights were canceled Saturday following Friday’s snowfall, which forced cancellation of 395 flights as it alternated between the two runways to allow for plowing. British Airways, a unit of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, said around 30 of its flights were canceled “mainly due to a knock-on disruption,” said Euan Fordyce, a spokesman for the airline.
The flights affected are domestic and short-haul journeys to Europe, BA said, and Heathrow Ltd. said it prioritizes long-haul flights. More snow is forecast for Saturday, particularly along the east coast, with lighter snow on Sunday in the Midlands and northwards, according to British Met Office. Much of the country is currently on “orange” severe weather alert, the second-highest warning due to the snow and icy conditions.
British Airways said aircraft and flight and cabin crew are “out of position” after snow disruption, and getting them back in place is causing some cancellations.
Gatwick airport, London’s second-busiest hub, said it was unaffected after a handful of disruptions Friday, though it urged travelers to check their flights as parts of Europe are still affected by snow. Stansted said it was also “operating as normal” while Luton, headquarters of low-cost carrier Easyjet Plc, said it was planning for possible minor delays to allow for snow clearing and de-icing of planes.
London City, in the east of London, said it was open as usual though some flights may be affected by yesterday’s disruption.
Snowfalls Friday led to hundreds of flight cancellations in Germany and Austria, curtailing service by carriers including Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Europe’s second-biggest.
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