Are flights cancelled from London airports? Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted disruption - as Storm Eunice hits UK

London City Airport have announced that all flights in and out will be cancelled until 4.30pm, when it is hoped that the worst of the storm will have passed.
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Fresh off the back of Storm Dudley, Storm Eunice is set to take its place in bringing miserable and potentially dangerous weather to the UK.

However this time, the disruption will be far more widespread with Storm Eunice set to bring high speed winds, tumultuous rainfall and even some snow across the country.

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Storm Eunice arrived in London at approximately 3am, according to the Met Office which has issued a new red weather warning for the capital.

Various weather experts have predicted overbearing gale force winds that could exceed 65mph, which are expected to cause a danger to public health.

The miserable weather is also set to cause countrywide disruption to travel, with Wales announcing that all trains are cancelled on Friday as they prepare for the arrival of Storm Eunice.

A number of rail companies have also advised Londoners not to use trains during this period, with the increasing risk that trees or debris could be blown onto the tracks.

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With many people going on or returning from February half term holidays, travellers will be wondering if London airports are going to be affected by Storm Eunice.

Will flights be cancelled from London airports?

A flight leaving Gatwick Airport during bad weather - Getty ImagesA flight leaving Gatwick Airport during bad weather - Getty Images
A flight leaving Gatwick Airport during bad weather - Getty Images

LondonWorld reached out to a number of airports in the capital to find out if and how air travel could be impacted by the arrival of Storm Eunice. Airports have urged passengers to keep an eye on the status of their flights in case of any changes.

London City Airport have announced that all flights in and out will be cancelled until 4.30pm, when it is hoped that the worst of the storm will have passed.

Officials from Stansted Airport wanted to assure potential passengers that the coming days are scheduled to operate as normal, but will remain cautious in order to react to the ever-changing weather conditions.

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Stansted Airport said on Twitter: “Due to potential disruption caused by #StormEunice passengers are advised to check with their airline for the most up-to-date flight information.

“We also advice allowing plenty of time for your journey to the airport, as road and rail networks may be affected.”

The Stansted Express will continue to operate services every 30 minutes between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, with trains running at a reduced speed.

Gatwick Airport have asked customers to check with their travel providers before heading to the airport today.

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In a statement on Twitter they said: “Please check with your travel providers before leaving for Gatwick today.

“There have already been several pre-flight cancellations.

“Also, be sure to allow extra time for your journey due to railway disruptions.”

Gatwick Airport also announced that their inter-terminal shuttle will cease operation from 12:00 and a bus replacement will take effect.

Whereas a Heathrow Airport spokesperson wanted to warn customers that last-minute delays are “possible” but they will do all they can to operate as safely as they can to minimise disruption.

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On its website, Heathrow Airport says: “Storm Eunice is forecast to cause poor weather conditions across the UK today (18 February). We are working closely with our airline and air traffic control partners to get passengers safely away on their journeys as quickly as possible.

“High winds and poor weather can cause last-minute delays, but we will do everything in our power to minimise any disruption. Please continue to check with your airline for the latest flight information.”

Have any flights been cancelled from London airports?

More than 100 flights have been delayed or cancelled in the past 24 hours.

British Airways has cancelled 44 flights from Heathrow and 36 from London City - all of which were domestic or European.

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There has been disruption elsewhere too, with airlines Aer Lingus (Cork and Dublin), Swiss (Zurich), Lufthansa (Frankfurt) and KLM (Amsterdam) all cancelling flights from Heathrow.

Gatwick has also been impacted by Storm Eunice, with an easyJet flight from Bordeaux unable to land from two attempts and returning to the south of France. The same airline has cancelled flights to Amsterdam and Belfast.

How do I check if my flight is cancelled?

Due to how quickly and often weather conditions can change, you should contact your airline if you are worried about your flight being cancelled on 18 February.

There are also other avenues to keep an eye on your flight, by using websites such as FlightRadar and FlightStats to check for any diversions or cancellations.

Can planes fly during a storm?

Planes are made to survive dangerous weather conditions.

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A spokesperson from Stansted Airport told LondonWorld that the main challenge when it comes to operating a plane during strong winds is “not necessarily the wind speed but wind direction and especially cross winds when landing”.

Travel site Sky Scanner explains that “take-off and landing are the only times during a flight when high winds can result in flight delays - most every flight deals with high winds at some point during its climb or descent”.

It adds: “With this in mind, horizontal winds (also known as “crosswinds”) in excess of 30-35 kts (about 34-40 mph) are generally prohibitive of take-off and landing.”

Each aircraft will have its own limitations, so conditions that might cancel one flight might not affect another due to the differences in the plane.

What is the London weather forecast for Storm Eunice?

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From when Storm Eunice rolls in at around 3am on Friday 18 February, London should expect heavy rain from 3am until 9am.

The wind will be at its strongest at midday in London, with speeds set to exceed 70mph.

Gusts are expected to be strong even after the weather warning has passed.