Passengers taking flights this weekend have been advised to check departure times with their airline before coming to the airport, as bad weather threatens to delay services.
Snow and high winds have been forecast for the weekend, in what is expected to be one of UK airports’ busiest periods.
Some northern parts of the country are already experiencing snowfall, with the south expected to see some over the next few days.
Flights to Scottish airports were delayed last week when heavy storms hit the country, causing widespread problems.
Although most UK airports have not so far experienced any delays, airport authorities are warning passengers to check with their airline before coming to the airport.
Heathrow airport has not experience any problems so far, but warned: “There may be delays due to the weather, keep in touch with your airline for flight information.”
Both Heathrow and Gatwick are likely to be affected by strong winds over the weekend, while Luton Airport has had a small amount of snow – although no services have been affected yet.
The news of possible delays could not have come at a worse time, as airports like Heathrow gearing up for their busiest Christmas weekend.
Over 780,000 passengers are expected to pass through the UK’s busiest airport this weekend. Heathrow has drafted in additional customer service employees to help smooth the Christmas getaway.
Around 3.5 million passengers will pass through the airport between 16 December and 3 January, as families make the most of the Christmas school holidays.
“The flight before Christmas is for many the most important flight of the year,” said Normand Boivin, Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow
“At Heathrow we’ve pulled out all the stops to ensure our passengers have a smooth journey and very merry Christmas.”
According to forecast figures, 23 December will see the most arrivals into Heathrow with 35,000 passengers scheduled to fly into Terminal 5 alone.
