Travel news live: Christmas getaway delays as snow hits M62 and trains, ferries and flights cancelled
RAC estimates 22.7 million drivers will hit the roads as people get away for Christmas
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Thousands of travellers hoping to reach home for Christmas have had to organise last minute alternatives, as flights, ferries and trains continue to be cancelled.
Over 100 flights at Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, have been cancelled on Sunday, while dozens of ferry routes in Scotland and Ireland are no longer running due to the bad weather.
Snow overnight has caused disruption on the M62 with one lane closed, as the RAC advise drivers to be cautious as millions take to the motorways this wekend.
Eighty of the Heathrow cancellations are on British Airways, involving short-haul domestic and European flights. Three round-trips to Amsterdam and Glasgow have been grounded.
Rail passengers are also facing another chaotic Sunday as Northern cancels all trains on 11 routes.
It comes as weather warnings kick in for parts of the UK on Saturday as millions more people get away for Christmas.Yellow warnings for wind are in place from 7am on Saturday to 9pm on Sunday in the North West, the North East, Scotland and parts of Wales and Northern Ireland.
An acceptable level of travel cancellations? Discuss
An acceptable level of travel cancellations? Discuss
The Man Who Pays His Way: Having festive travel plans torn up comes at a heavy emotional cost, as at least 15,000 passengers see their Heathrow flights cancelled, writes Simon Calder
Caledonian MacBrayne: further disruption for passengers to the Western Isles
Scotland’s main ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne, has cancelled most sailings to and from the Western Isles for the rest of Sunday due to extreme weather – and has also revised schedules for Monday and Christmas Eve.
The shipping firm says the first sailing from Ardrossan to Brodick on the isle of Arran is cancelled on Monday.
On Tuesday (Christmas Eve), the link between Oban and the island of Barra has been rescheduled, with the morning sailing from the island brought forward by three hours to 4am. After crossing to Oban, the vessel will spend only 15 minutes in port before sailing back to Barra four hours ahead of schedule.
As a result of rescheduling, a sailing from Oban to the island of Mull is cancelled on Christmas Eve morning.
Christmas getaway delays as more than 100 flights cancelled at Heathrow
Watch live: Planes struggle to land in strong winds at London’s Heathrow Airport
Watch live: Planes struggle to land in strong winds at London’s Heathrow Airport
Watch live as planes struggle to land in strong winds at London’s Heathrow Airport on Sunday (22 December).
Temperatures to be ‘extremely mild’ over Christmas
Looking ahead to next week, conditions are expected to improve and the UK could see a “grey Christmas”, rather than a white one.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: “We’re expecting to see some sunny spells further east and a lot of cloud from the west.
“Temperatures should rise considerably and it will be extremely mild over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
“In England and Wales, temperatures will be well above average with some grey in the mix. We’re expecting an average of around 12C or 13C on Christmas Eve and 11C or 12C on Christmas Day. The usual average for this time of year is 7C or 8C so we’ll be around double where we usually are.
“Overnight temperatures in Scotland for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be extremely mild.”
Heathrow cancellations rise above 100 but most other airports are running smoothly
Sunday 22 December is the busiest day of the winter at three of the UK’s leading airports: London Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester. Operations at all three are running smoothly, unlike at London Heathrow where “flow-rate” restrictions have caused the cancellation of more than 100 flights.
The most significant problems in Europe outside Heathrow are at Funchal airport on the island of Madeira. Several flights have been diverted, including to the nearby island of Porto Santo and the Canary Islands.
An easyJet flight from Gatwick circled for 45 minutes to the northeast of Funchal before diverting to Tenerife. The inbound service from the island of Madeira to Gatwick has been grounded.
The airline told passengers: “We’re sorry that your flight has been cancelled. This is because strong winds in Madeira are preventing aircraft from arriving and departing. The safety of you and our crew is our highest priority and we thank you for your understanding.”
Travellers who were booked to fly home on the cancelled plane are entitled to be flown on any airline with seats available – but space is at a premium so close to Christmas.
Windy conditions could see gusts up to 75mph
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said that Sunday could see gusts of up to 75mph.
He said: “There will continue to be more challenging travel conditions, with coastal areas seeing around 50 to 60mph winds.
“Extremely exposed coastal areas could see up to 70 or 75mph and parts of the west are expected to see 40 or 50mph.
“In the evening we are expecting these to ease and gradually drop off.
“My advice for people travelling today and tonight is to take it easy, particularly in the north and east. The main concern is that there’s the potential for icy patches in some areas.”
Severe weather leads to train line closure
The train line between Crediton and Okehampton in south England have closed due to the weather, Great Western Railways have said.
In a post on social media, they said: “Due to forecasted severe weather between Crediton and Okehampton the line is closed.
“Train services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton via Crediton have been suspended between Crediton and Okehampton. Disruption is expected until 18:00.”
Passengers complains about poor communication from ferry company
Stefan Donnelly, 35, had travelled from London to Scotland where he discovered his ferry from Cairnryan to Larne had been cancelled.
Mr Donnelly had planned to travel at 8pm on Saturday but has managed to rebook onto the 8pm sailing on Sunday.
The marketing manager, who is travelling home to Northern Ireland for Christmas, said communication from P&O Ferries had been poor as he only discovered his sailing had been cancelled from social media.
“I was on my way to Cairnryan yesterday and happened to check Twitter to discover my ferry was cancelled,” Mr Donnelly said.
“I stopped in Ayr and booked a night in a hotel there.
“There wasn’t any communication from P&O, I didn’t get an email or a text message or anything. I was on the phone for about an hour-and-a-half this morning but I eventually got through to someone.
“They were saying on the Twitter side that the 8pm ferry I’m getting today was full but then they weren’t actually, and I’m traveling as a foot passenger, which makes it easier for (P&O).”
Temporary air traffic restrictions in place at Heathrow due to weather
A spokesperson for British Airways said that adverse weather and “restrictions” on the number of flights able to take off and land had led to “a small number of cancellations”.
They added: “We’re offering free flight changes for those customers booked on short-haul services who don’t wish to travel this weekend, and we will be offering rebooking and refund options as always to those whose journeys are disrupted as a result of the restrictions.”
NATs, which provides UK air traffic control, confirmed that “due to adverse weather, temporary air traffic restrictions are in place at Heathrow.
“Restrictions of this sort are only ever applied to maintain safety.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments