UNIPA News|| London 28 June-Severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall caused widespread disruption at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports over the weekend, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations and significant delays, with further disruption expected on Sunday.

According to flight tracking data, more than 400 flights at Gatwick were delayed on Saturday, while over 600 flights experienced delays at Heathrow. More than 200 flights across the two airports were cancelled as adverse weather conditions affected air traffic operations.

Several flights scheduled for Sunday were also cancelled. At Gatwick, easyJet cancelled services to Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Belfast and Nice, while additional delays were expected throughout the day. At Heathrow, British Airways cancelled flights to Toulouse, Rome, Amsterdam and Milan.

The European air traffic management agency, Eurocontrol, reported that Heathrow and Gatwick were the only airports in the United Kingdom experiencing heavy delays due to thunderstorms.

Gatwick Airport said temporary air traffic control restrictions were introduced on Saturday because of severe weather, resulting in delays and cancellations.

EasyJet said it had proactively cancelled a number of flights to and from Gatwick as thunderstorms in southern England reduced the number of aircraft arrivals and departures. The airline said affected passengers were being offered options to rebook their flights or receive refunds, while hotel accommodation and meal assistance would be provided where necessary.

Airlines have advised passengers travelling through Heathrow and Gatwick to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport, as weather-related disruption may continue.