Christmas travel hit by high winds weather warning as Heathrow Airport cancels 100 flights

Travel expert Simon Calder said Sunday’s 100 cancellations at Heathrow were “significant” and a much higher number than you would normally see on a typical Sunday.

He said they were caused by the predicted high wind speeds so the rate of arrivals – normally as many as one every 80 seconds – has to be extended.

Around 80 of the 100 flights cancelled were British Airways, Mr Calder said, and he estimated around 15,000 passengers would be affected in total.

A Heathrow spokesperson said “a small number” of flights had been cancelled “due to strong winds and airspace restrictions”.

The airport advised passengers to check with their airline for the latest information about their flight.

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.”