Dense fog is expected to cause disruption at some of Britain’s busiest airports until Sunday.
Flights at Stansted Airport were affected by weather conditions on Saturday, while live departure boards at Heathrow, Luton and Manchester airports showed delays.
Britain’s main air traffic control provider NATS said temporary air restrictions would remain in place in areas with low visibility until Sunday.
Sunday is expected to be Gatwick’s busiest day over the holiday period, with 769 flights planned.
The Met Office said visibility could be reduced to just 100 meters in some areas due to dense fog, with passengers advised to contact their airlines for updated information.
A Nets spokesperson said: “These types of restrictions are implemented only to maintain security.
“We continue to monitor the situation and have a Met Office specialist involved in our operations to ensure we have the latest available information.”
The BBC reported that 20 flights were canceled at Heathrow on Saturday morning, while 29 others were delayed. At Gatwick, 26 were delayed and one was cancelled. Flights at Stansted Airport were also affected by weather conditions, while live departure boards showed delays at Luton and Manchester airports, following a series of cancellations on Friday.
National Weather Service meteorologist Liam Eslick said: “This is the time of year when people are traveling a lot around the country and there are a lot of people on the roads.
“There is widespread fog across much of England, mainly in south-east and central England, but dense fog is also being seen across much of the rest of the country… Saturday morning will be quite hazy and will still remain Patches of fog that will take a little longer to clear.”
Heading into New Year’s Eve, the forecast looks “unstable” due to dusty and wet conditions in the north of the UK and “less widespread” rainfall in the south.
The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for snow and rain in Scotland next week, warning that heavy rain could cause “significant disruption” in the build-up to Hogmanay.
The alert is in force for most of Scotland except Orkney and Shetland on 30 and 31 December. According to forecasters, 10 to 20 cm of snow is expected in areas north and east of Perthshire.
The Scottish First Minister, John Swinney, urged people to “pay close attention” to weather warnings during the Hogmanay period, as heavy rain and snow could potentially cause significant disruption in the build-up to the New Year.
A yellow weather warning has also been issued for wind across northern England on Monday – gusts up to 60mph could cause travel delays and power outages. The warning, which runs from 11am to 6pm, covers areas including Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
Dozens of flights were canceled and hundreds delayed at airports across Britain on Friday, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
“There may be some flight delays throughout the day,” a spokesperson for Gatwick Airport in West Sussex said Saturday. “London Gatwick apologizes for any inconvenience. Passengers should contact their airline for further information.
Kiera Quayle, from Colchester, Essex, was due to fly from Isle of Man Airport to Gatwick on Friday evening with her husband after visiting family, but their flight was delayed by three hours and canceled at around 10pm , their next flight was available. Travel on Sunday.
“It looks like our five days have turned into seven,” Quayle told PA media. “It’s frustrating and stressful but I’ve heard from some families who are now missing holidays and work and their situation is even worse at the moment.”
Irem, 36, said her flight from Cologne, Germany, to Manchester Airport on Friday was delayed by more than six hours due to fog in the north of England. “I think we’re lucky that we’re still going to see [her husband’s family in north Wales] Tomorrow,” she told the BBC.
Flight status website Cirium showed that a flight from Istanbul to Gatwick was delayed for 10 hours. “Some passengers found hotels, some remained stranded at airports due to confusion,” Dr Shama Junejo said on Twitter.