Fog leads to disruption of flights at several British airports

Intending passengers in Ireland advised to check with airlines before heading to airports

Traffic lights and traffic amid  thick fog in London this morning. Flights have been disrupted at London City airport and Heathrow, the Woolwich ferry was cancelled and low visibility has caused slow traffic on motorways in England. Photograph: Russell Boyce/Reuters
Traffic lights and traffic amid thick fog in London this morning. Flights have been disrupted at London City airport and Heathrow, the Woolwich ferry was cancelled and low visibility has caused slow traffic on motorways in England. Photograph: Russell Boyce/Reuters

Intending flight passengers are advised to check with their airlines this morning if flying to Britain as fog has affected visibility at a host of airports across the Irish Sea.

A number of flights in England were cancelled because of the early-morning fog.

Arrivals and departures were cancelled at London City Airport, where forecasters said visibility was below 100 metres.

Flights have also reportedly been cancelled at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester airports, although before 8am Manchester Airport tweeted: “Fog it [sic] low this morning but we are operating as normal but if in any doubt please check with your airline!”

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Eurocontrol, the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, stated there was extensive low visibility at Manchester, Gatwick, London City, London Heathrow, Southampton and Nantes airports.

Passengers at London City Airport were urged to get in touch with airlines directly to find out the latest news on their flights.

The airport, at the Royal Docks in Newham, east London, said on its website: “Due to low visibility at London City Airport this morning flights are experiencing disruptions. Passengers are advised to contact their airlines for more information.”

At least 10 departures have been cancelled, among them the 7am flight to Edinburgh, the 7.30am to Zurich, the 7.35am to Rotterdam and the 7.50am to Amsterdam.

Chris Burton, from forecasters MeteoGroup, said: "The fog is quite extensive across much of England and Wales this morning, and quite a few places will be waking up to quite foggy conditions.

“But as we go through the morning the fog and cloud should break up, and by afternoon we should see some good spells of sunshine.”

Additional reporting: Press Association

Peter Smyth

Peter Smyth is a digital production journalist at The Irish Times