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Severe weather in London Severe weather in London
(about 2 hours later)
British Airways has apologised to passengers who were stuck on planes at Heathrow as snow delayed and cancelled hundreds of flights. Passengers are facing further disruptions as Heathrow Airport cancelled 100 flights on Saturday.
More than 400 flights were cancelled on Friday and some passengers were kept on board aircraft to use take-off slots as soon as they became available. The airport said 67 of those flights were departing and 33 arriving. But both runways remain open and the airport is returning to normal.
Heathrow said flights were returning to normal on Saturday with 44 aircraft taking off and landing every hour. On Friday more than 400 flights were axed and thousands of passengers ended up sleeping in the airport.
However, due to the backlog from Friday there is still some disruption. British Airways (BA) apologised to people who were stuck on planes as snow delayed and cancelled their flights.
Passengers travelling on Friday complained of being on board for several hours while others were unable to collect their luggage. Some passengers were kept waiting on board aircraft for hours to use take-off slots as soon as they became available, while others complained they were unable to collect their luggage.
British Airways said it was "doing all it could" it to help customers. 'Refugee camp'
A spokesperson for Heathrow said 100 flights, most of which were short-haul, had been cancelled on Saturday and that the airport was open after de-icing overnight. BA said it was "doing all it could" and said customers could rebook their flights if they did not want to travel on Saturday or Sunday.
Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent, said Terminal Five no longer looked like a "refugee camp", which it had overnight.
Despite the fresh cancellations, mostly for short-haul flights, on Saturday the west London airport said about 44 aircrafts were taking off and landing every hour.
But there were disruptions as it was trying to clear the backlog from Friday.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: "Both runways, and all stands and taxiways are open at Heathrow this morning with no restrictions.
"We do not expect significant snowfall today, but temperatures are forecast to remain around zero degrees or below and there is the possibility of low-visibility conditions".
But the airport warned that passengers could face problems on Sunday.
"There is a chance of further snow tomorrow, with a potential accumulation of between 2cm and 5cm from 11:00 GMT and we will be talking to airlines today about tomorrow's schedule".
'Mildly hysterical''Mildly hysterical'
The freezing conditions forced the closure of a runway for de-icing, as the airport's usual number of 42 take-off and landing slots an hour was reduced to six at one point - and an average of 26 for most of the day. On Friday, the freezing conditions forced the closure of a runway for de-icing, as the airport's usual number of 42 take-off and landing slots an hour was reduced to six at one point - and an average of 26 for most of the day.
Priority for the slots was given to long haul flights whereas most BA services are short-haul, a spokesman said.Priority for the slots was given to long haul flights whereas most BA services are short-haul, a spokesman said.
A spokesman for British Airways said: "Due to the severe weather yesterday, there will be knock-on disruption to flights today and we would strongly advise customers to check the very latest status of their flight via ba.com before coming to the airport. A spokesman for British Airways said: "There will be knock-on disruption to services on Saturday and we are advising all customers to check the very latest status of their flight via ba.com before leaving for the airport and if their flight has been cancelled not to leave home."
"We are keeping our schedule under constant review and will adjust it further if we need to. We apologise for the inconvenience caused." Passenger Ian Aitchison, who was due to fly on Friday to the US for a conference, said he was "mildly hysterical" about being on a plane for more than six hours before the flight was cancelled and he was then told he would be unable to get his luggage back.
Passenger Ian Aitchison, who was due to fly to the US for a conference, said he was "mildly hysterical" about being on a plane for more than six hours before the flight was cancelled and he was then told he would be unable to get his luggage back.
"We're trying to get our luggage back, of course, and BA have told us we can't have our luggage so all the suitcases are being held of all the people who are on the cancelled BA flights."We're trying to get our luggage back, of course, and BA have told us we can't have our luggage so all the suitcases are being held of all the people who are on the cancelled BA flights.
"So, I'm with a party of people here flying over to the US, and we're all trying to find ourselves hotels. We've not got our cases."So, I'm with a party of people here flying over to the US, and we're all trying to find ourselves hotels. We've not got our cases.
"It will be sent on alternative flights or you can arrange to have it sent to you through the website."It will be sent on alternative flights or you can arrange to have it sent to you through the website.
"It's pretty funny. To be honest I'm mildly hysterical... obviously there's a lot of people who are quite upset."It's pretty funny. To be honest I'm mildly hysterical... obviously there's a lot of people who are quite upset.
"Mostly people are just confused and dazed rather than shouting and swearing.""Mostly people are just confused and dazed rather than shouting and swearing."
'It's miserable''It's miserable'
He said airline staff had been very "polite and helpful" walking around talking to passengers but "the problem is that they don't know what's going happen next".He said airline staff had been very "polite and helpful" walking around talking to passengers but "the problem is that they don't know what's going happen next".
Jerry Meng, from Los Angeles, spent the night at the airport after his 11:00 GMT flight to New York was cancelled. Jerry Meng, from Los Angeles, spent Friday night at the airport after his 11:00 GMT flight to New York was cancelled.
He said: "There are lots of bodies lying around in the airport. If feels like there's been a natural disaster.He said: "There are lots of bodies lying around in the airport. If feels like there's been a natural disaster.
"The staff have been helpful, they've been handing out blankets and water bottles."The staff have been helpful, they've been handing out blankets and water bottles.
"It's miserable - but that's nature. It's better to be safe and protect peoples' lives.""It's miserable - but that's nature. It's better to be safe and protect peoples' lives."
British Airways said customers who no longer wished to travel over the weekend could rebook their flight for a later date. Refunds and overnight accommodation were also being offered, or letters for customers to make a claim at a later date. British Airways has offered refunds and overnight accommodation to customers, or letters for customers to make a claim at a later date.
On the trains there are delays of about half-an-hour between the UK and France.
There are also delays of between 40 minutes and 50 minutes on the First Capital Connect and Southern trains.
On London Midland there are delays of up to 30 minutes and passengers have been warned of cancellations at short notice.
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