Massive snowstorms in the U.K. have closed the country’s two major airports as the Christmas season arrives. Both Heathrow and Gatwick in London have been closed and are scheduled to open later in the day.
British Airways Plc said all flights departing from London Heathrow and London Gatwick were canceled between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time as snow blanketed western Europe over the last weekend before Christmas.
As much as 15 centimers (six inches) of snow fell in southwest England and “further significant accumulations” are likely, the U.K.’s Met Office said on its website.
In the U.K. the trains have been delayed and a wildcat tube strike has added to the joys of transportation.
In south-east England, rail operators Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains canceled some services today.
Up to 10cm (4 inches) of snow is expected later across southern England and Wales.
Across the Channel, problems with snow and ice were stalling travel from Poland to Paris. Frankfurt and Schiphol airports have announced thousands of cancellations and in Poland there were calls for the resignation of the Infrastructure Minister because of massive problems with the train systems. And in Paris, emergency measures are being put into place to prevent travel chaos.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
