Severe fog leads to cancellation of some BA flights

A repeat of flight cancellations from Irish airports due to weather conditions around the country is not expected today, but …

A repeat of flight cancellations from Irish airports due to weather conditions around the country is not expected today, but trips to Britain, where freezing fog is expected to remain, may still be affected.

Met Éireann has said the fog, which particularly affected the west and midlands yesterday, should be cleared from most areas shortly after dawn by light breezes, allowing airports to operate as normal.

However, British Airways last night cancelled 180 short-haul and domestic flights to and from London Heathrow for today, out of a normal daily total of 400.

A spokesman for the airline said the cancellations were due to severe fog, which has led to air traffic control reducing the flights that can land and take off each hour at Heathrow.

It is expected the airport will only be able to manage about 50 per cent of the normal landings and take-offs throughout today. Tomorrow may also be affected.

Some flights to Gatwick, Cardiff and Liverpool may also be affected. Travellers are advised to contact their airline.

At home, Knock airport was the worst-affected yesterday, with alternative travel arrangements made for up to 1,000 passengers. At Galway airport, 2,000 passengers were affected over three days of inclement weather. Services at Cork, Kerry, Dublin and Shannon airports gradually returned to normal, but some flights experienced delays.

Met Éireann forecaster Dr Aidan Nulty said breezes should clear fog this morning, with western areas clearing first. He said extensive fog would probably not be experienced tomorrow or Saturday, but there was a possibility of its return over Christmas.

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Fiona Gartland

Fiona Gartland

Fiona Gartland is a crime writer and former Irish Times journalist