Dozens of flights have been canceled and more than 400 delayed at London airports on Saturday due to persistent heavy fog and strong winds, according to flight tracking data.

Data from FlightAware shows Gatwick Airport has reported 238 delays, while Heathrow has seen 209, and Stansted 31. All three airports have also experienced flight cancellations as adverse weather conditions continue to disrupt travel plans.

At Heathrow alone, 40 flights have been canceled, while Gatwick has recorded at least 26 cancellations, leaving some passengers waiting up to nine hours.

The latest disruption follows similar chaos on Friday, where hundreds of passengers faced delays, with some flights postponed by up to three hours.

Although the national weather service has yet to issue formal fog warnings, it is monitoring the situation. “It’s that time of year when people are travelling around the country a lot and there are a lot of people on the roads,” Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick told the PA news agency.

“There is a lot of fog covering much of England, mainly the South East and central England, but the rest of the country is seeing quite a bit of thick fog too,” Mr. Eslick added. “It will be pretty murky on Saturday morning and there will still be fog patches that will take a little longer to clear.”

Passenger Frustrations Mount

Among those affected were Kiera Quayle, 30, and her husband, who were forced to extend their Christmas visit to family on the Isle of Man by two days. Their Friday evening flight from Isle of Man Airport to London Gatwick was delayed by three hours before being canceled around 10 p.m. The couple’s next available flight is on Sunday.

“Our five days has turned to seven, it looks like,” Ms. Quayle told the PA news agency. “It’s frustrating and stressful, but I overheard a few families who are now missing holidays and work who have it worse at this point.”

She expressed disappointment over the lack of communication. “We all knew the flight would likely be canceled, but just putting it as delayed in an airport where the only food was crisps from the bar wasn’t fair,” she said.

The couple is now staying with in-laws to avoid hotel costs. “We’re trying not to impose too much at this point and we’re grateful we have places we can stay,” Ms. Quayle added.

Nationwide Impact

Other airports, including Manchester, have also reported delays, with disruptions expected to continue across the UK.

A spokesperson for Nats, the UK’s primary air traffic controller, told Sky: “Due to widespread fog, temporary air traffic restrictions are in place at several airports across the UK today. Restrictions of this sort are only ever applied to maintain safety.

“We continue to monitor the situation and have a Met Office expert embedded within our operation to ensure we have the latest available information. Our teams are working closely with the airports and airlines to minimise disruption.”

Motorists have also been advised to drive cautiously in foggy conditions.

Clearing Conditions Ahead

Low cloud and fog are expected to clear gradually on Sunday, according to Mr. Eslick. “Some stronger winds will pick up and turn over these cloudy and murky conditions to help clear the fog,” he explained.

While the last days of the year are less likely to see a return of the current murky weather, Mr. Eslick cautioned against expecting clear skies. “It looks like it won’t be as dank and horrible early next week, but it will still be wet and windy across much of the country,” he said.

Vanguard News