Hundreds of Flights Delayed at Heathrow, Gatwick Amid Southern UK Thunderstorms

Hundreds of flights departing from Heathrow and Gatwick airports experienced significant delays yesterday, attributed largely to thunderstorms south of the United Kingdom. Air traffic control (ATC) restrictions were implemented across southern UK airspace, impacting operations at both major hubs.

Data indicates that more than 600 flights were delayed, with Heathrow recording over 300 affected departures and Gatwick nearly 200. These figures represent approximately 40% of all flights scheduled to depart from Heathrow and 45% from Gatwick. While a minority of these delays were ascribed to factors unrelated to weather, the majority were a direct consequence of the adverse conditions.

National Air Traffic Services (NATS) confirmed that ATC flow restrictions were necessary to ensure safety during the challenging weather. The agency stated that controllers reduced the number of flights permitted to ensure adequate spacing, particularly due to thunderstorm activity in continental European airspace impacting south-east UK routes. Disruption persisted into the evening, with residual delays affecting passengers across both airports.