Another 20 flights were cancelled at Gatwick today as restrictions remained in place for a fourth day because of fog after ‘frustrated’ passengers slept on the floor.
The flights planned for the West Sussex airport today were axed in advance, disrupting Christmas and New Year travel plans for thousands of travellers.
Passengers were also warned of delays throughout the day – with flights at the UK’s second busiest airport having been disrupted since Friday because of the weather.
Some spent the night on the floor waiting for news on their delayed or cancelled flight, amid complaints of a lack of information from airlines and the airport.
While the fog began to clear this morning, passengers faced a major knock-on effect today after more than 100 of yesterday’s 769 scheduled flights were cancelled.
Sunday was already due to be the hub’s busiest day of the Christmas holiday period, and the Met Office said patches of fog reduced visibility to 100 yards in some areas.
Today, one passenger stuck in the North Terminal told ITV‘s Good Morning Britain: ‘I arrived last night at about 6pm to get my flight. It was suddenly cancelled.’
One woman at Gatwick told ITV: ‘It’s been a little bit frustrating. We’ve been here since yesterday. We were delayed four hours yesterday then the flight was finally cancelled. Then today, also cancelled. And hopefully we’ll get on a flight in five hours, if it’s not cancelled.’
Another passenger told Good Morning Britain that they faced being unable to fly for up to ten days, saying: ‘We’ve been told it’s been cancelled, and to go on and manage our own flights, which we were trying to do – but there’s nothing for at least a week, week and a half’
A plane takes off in foggy conditions from London Gatwick Airport in West Sussex on Saturday
Another said: ‘It’s been a little bit frustrating. We’ve been here since yesterday. We were delayed four hours yesterday then the flight was finally cancelled. Then today, also cancelled. And hopefully we’ll get on a flight in five hours, if it’s not cancelled.’
A third claimed they faced being unable to fly for up to ten days, saying: ‘We’ve been told it’s been cancelled, and to go on and manage our own flights, which we were trying to do – but there’s nothing for at least a week, week and a half.’
The programme’s presenter Nick Dixon said the situation was ‘hugely frustrating for passengers, but also just the lack of information they’re saying from the airlines and the airport.’
He added that ‘a lot of the passengers are saying inside the airport that they’re not really able to find people, staff, in there to get information from’.
Also among those affected by cancellations over the past few days were a couple who have been forced to prolong their Christmas visit to family on the Isle of Man by two days.
Kiera Quayle, from Colchester, Essex, was due to fly from Isle of Man Airport to Gatwick on Friday evening with her husband after visiting his family but their flight was delayed by three hours before finally being cancelled at around 10pm, with the next one not available until Sunday.
‘Our five days has turned to seven, it looks like,’ Mrs Quayle, 30, told the PA news agency.
‘It’s frustrating and stressful but I overheard a few families who are now missing holidays and work who have it worse at this point.’
Flights were delayed early this morning because of fog, but a Gatwick spokesperson said later today: ‘Temporary air traffic restrictions in place over the weekend due to fog have been lifted.
‘A small number of flights have been cancelled in advance to avoid last-minute cancellations, but operations are now returning to normal. London Gatwick apologises for any inconvenience.’
And a spokesperson for easyJet, one of the airport’s largest airline operators, said: ‘Unfortunately, a small number of flights this morning to and from London Gatwick were cancelled due to the knock-on impact of air traffic control restrictions from poor weather conditions yesterday.
‘Customers were notified in advance to minimise the impact on their plans and provided with options to rebook before travelling or receive a refund, as well as hotel accommodation and meals where required.
Passengers sit on stairs at Gatwick Airport over the weekend as they wait for flight information
A plane takes off in foggy conditions from London Gatwick Airport in West Sussex on SaturdayÂ
‘The safety and well-being of our customers and crew is our highest priority and while this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.’
Nats, the UK’s main air traffic control provider, said temporary air restrictions were in place yesterday because of low visibility in airfields affected by fog.
Nats said in a statement today: ‘The weather conditions that caused disruption to UK airports over the weekend have significantly improved.
‘Only a few air traffic regulations remain, and these are within normal operating limits.
‘Passengers should still check the status of their flight with their airline, as there may be knock-on impacts to the usual flying schedule.’
easyJet, said yesterday afternoon that a number of flights had been delayed or cancelled due to the knock on impact of delays caused by the weather.
Heathrow said it was running a normal service on Monday.Â
It follows three days of disruption at the UK’s busiest airports, with Saturday’s flights at Stansted Airport affected by the murky conditions, while live departure boards showed delays at Heathrow, Luton, Gatwick and Manchester Airports.
Passengers on flights delayed for more than two hours may be entitled to assistance, including food and drink or overnight accommodation if necessary.
Has your flight been affected by fog? Please email: mark.duell@mailonline.co.uk