Flight cancellations hit Gatwick and Heathrow for fourth day due to weather

For the fourth consecutive day, flight cancellations have plagued UK airports, particularly Gatwick and Heathrow, due to adverse weather conditions and a shortage of air-traffic control staff. On Monday morning alone, around 3,500 passengers were affected as 20 flights were grounded at Gatwick. The cancellations stemmed from air-traffic control restrictions, which were attributed to staff absences and existing weather-related limitations. EasyJet faced significant disruptions, with 64 flights cancelled on Sunday due to short-notice staff shortages in the control tower. The situation worsened over the weekend, with British Airways cancelling 240 flights between Friday and Sunday, impacting approximately 40,000 passengers. On Monday, BA grounded an additional eight flights at Heathrow and six at Gatwick. Passengers expressed frustration, with one individual noting the early morning cancellation of a flight without timely communication from the airline's helpline. Nats, the air-navigation provider managing Gatwick's control tower, acknowledged the ongoing issues and stated that temporary air-traffic restrictions were necessary for safety. Despite their efforts to minimize disruption, the situation has led to calls for leadership changes at Gatwick, with critics highlighting a pattern of operational failures. As the chaos continues, airlines like Ryanair have publicly criticized Nats, demanding accountability for the disruptions. The ongoing cancellations and delays have prompted suggestions for passengers to consider alternative airports, such as Luton, which reportedly offer similar destinations with fewer delays.