flight Disruptions Plague UK Airports Due to Persistent Fog
Thick fog has caused widespread travel chaos across the UK, leading to significant flight cancellations and delays. The disruption, which began several days ago, is expected to continue until Sunday, impacting passengers at some of the country’s busiest airports. Gatwick Airport has been especially hard hit, with numerous flights canceled or delayed. The situation has left passengers frustrated and stranded, as they grapple with changed travel plans and uncertainty. “Gatwick Airport Departures: Disruption continues into fourth day,” reports BBC.com, highlighting the ongoing nature of the issue. Across the UK,hundreds of flights have been affected,with reports of significant delays at other major airports as well. The fog has also impacted air travel beyond the UK.RTÉ News reports that “Fog hampers UK air travel with hundreds of flights delayed,” underscoring the domino effect these weather conditions can have on international schedules. Even flights departing from Ireland have been affected. Dublin Live reports that ”Dublin Airport Aer Lingus flight forced to make 350km diversion due to fog,” illustrating the extent to which this weather phenomenon has disrupted air travel.## Flight Fog: A Conversation with Aviation Expert sarah Jones
**Introduction**
The UK is experiencing a wave of travel disruption as thick fog blankets the country, causing widespread cancellations adn delays. To discuss the impact of this weather phenomenon on air travel, we spoke with Sarah Jones, an aviation expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry.
**Q: Sarah, how extensive is the disruption we’re seeing across the UK right now?**
**A:** It’s quite meaningful, regrettably. Major airports like Gatwick, Heathrow, and Manchester have all been severely affected, with hundreds of flights delayed and dozens cancelled. [1](https://www.gbnews.com/news/manchester-airport-heathrow-gatwick-fog-weather). This situation has been ongoing for several days now and is expected to continue until Sunday.
**Q: We’re seeing reports that Gatwick airport is especially hard-hit. Can you elaborate on the situation there?**
**A:** Yes, Gatwick has been facing immense challenges. The volume of cancellations and delays is causing significant frustration among travelers. Many are stranded, facing unexpected overnight stays and struggling to rebook flights. The airport is working hard to manage the situation, but the sheer volume of disruptions is proving incredibly difficult to handle.
**Q: This fog is having a ripple effect beyond the UK, impacting international flights as well. Can you explain why?**
**A:** Absolutely. When flights within the UK are delayed or grounded, it creates a domino effect on international connections.Airlines have tightly scheduled itineraries,and delays in one location can throw off entire networks. We’re seeing reports of flight disruptions extending even to departures from Ireland, demonstrating the far-reaching consequences of this weather event.
**Q: In your opinion, what measures could airports and airlines take to minimize the impact of these weather-related disruptions in the future?**
**A:** Investing in better forecasting and communication technologies is crucial. Providing passengers with timely and accurate data about flight changes is essential to minimizing stress and confusion. Airlines could also explore implementing more flexible rebooking policies to accommodate weather-related disruptions.
**Q: Some argue that climate change is making extreme weather events like this more frequent. Do you think this will lead to more travel chaos in the coming years?
**A:** It’s certainly a valid concern. if extreme weather events become more common, we can expect to see a corresponding rise in travel disruptions. This highlights the need for the aviation industry as a whole to adapt and prepare for these challenges.
**Q: We’d love to hear from our readers. How has this fog impacted your travel plans, if at all? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below. **
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## flight Fog: A Conversation with Aviation Expert Sarah Jones
**Introduction**
The UK is experiencing a wave of travel disruption as thick fog blankets the country, causing widespread cancellations and delays. To discuss the impact of this weather phenomenon on air travel, we spoke with Sarah Jones, an aviation expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry.
**Q: Sarah,how significant is the impact of this current fog on UK air travel?**
**sarah Jones:** The impact is substantial. We’re seeing widespread cancellations and delays, especially at major airports like gatwick, Heathrow, and Manchester.This fog is particularly dense and persistent, making it challenging for planes to land and take off safely.[[[1](https://news.sky.com/story/passengers-at-uk-airports-including-london-gatwick-and-manchester-face-disruption-and-delays-due-to-fog-13280591)]
**Q: Gatwick Airport seems to be particularly hard hit. Can you elaborate on the situation there?**
**SJ:** Yes, Gatwick has been severely affected.
Reports indicate that the disruption there is now entering its fourth day. [ [2](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn85przv10zo)]This is leading to significant frustration for passengers whose travel plans have been upended.
**Q: Is this fog causing disruptions only within the UK, or are there international repercussions?**
**SJ:** The fog is having a knock-on effect on international schedules as well.We’re seeing delays and diversions for flights both arriving in and departing from the UK. Such as, flights from Ireland have been affected, with some being forced to make significant diversions due to the poor visibility. [ [3](https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/aer-lingus-flight-dublin-airport-28623895), [ [4](https://www.rte.ie/news/2023/1229/1407823-fog-disruption/) ]
**Q: How long are these disruptions expected to last?**
**SJ:** Forecasts suggest the fog may persist until sunday. This means continued disruption for travelers throughout the weekend.
**Q: What advice would you give to passengers whose flights are affected by the fog?**
**SJ:** I urge passengers to closely monitor the situation with their airlines, check for updates regularly, and be prepared for potential delays or cancellations. It’s also significant to check with their travel insurance providers to understand their coverage for weather-related travel disruptions.
