Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Major global airlines including Lufthansa, Swiss, British Airways, Air China, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic have been hit by a wave of new travel turmoil at London Heathrow Airport, where dense fog and mist caused over one hundred flight delays and four cancellations on Tuesday. The low-visibility conditions triggered widespread operational disruption across both short-haul and long-haul routes, stranding passengers and forcing last-minute changes throughout the day.
A thick blanket of fog and persistent mist over London Heathrow Airport has triggered significant travel disruption today, with over 117 flights delayed and 4 cancellations reported across multiple international carriers. The weather-related disruptions have impacted both arrivals and departures, affecting thousands of travelers at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
According to updated figures, 117 total flight delays were recorded at Heathrow as of Tuesday, while 4 flights were officially cancelled. Of those, only 2 delays were connected to flights within, into, or out of the United States, and there were no U.S.-related cancellations, highlighting the broader impact across European and Asian carriers.
Airline Disruption Breakdown:
The most significant disruptions were recorded by British Airways, which reported a staggering 109 delayed flights, accounting for approximately 16% of its total operations today. Although British Airways did not cancel any flights, the volume of delays underscores the widespread operational impact of the fog.
Swiss International Air Lines was hit the hardest in terms of cancellations, grounding 3 flights, representing 13% of its schedule at Heathrow. Meanwhile, Lufthansa cancelled 1 flight, marking 2% of its planned services today.
Several other global carriers reported isolated delays, most notably:
- Air China: 1 flight delayed (20% of its schedule)
- China Eastern: 1 flight delayed (20%)
- Delta Air Lines: 1 flight delayed (5%)
- Korean Air: 1 flight delayed (50%)
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines: 1 flight delayed (6%)
- Virgin Atlantic International: 1 flight delayed (25%)
- Virgin Atlantic: 1 flight delayed (1%)
- Vueling Airlines: 1 flight delayed (16%)
Despite the low number of outright cancellations, fog and low visibility conditions led to a widespread ripple effect across the airport’s departure and arrival schedules, forcing aircraft to hold for extended periods and causing cascading delays throughout the day.
Travel Disruption Amid Fog and Mist
Heathrow officials attributed the delays to dense fog and mist, which significantly reduced visibility and forced air traffic controllers to implement safety protocols, including wider spacing between landings and takeoffs.
Passengers took to social media to express their frustration over prolonged waiting times and limited real-time updates. Several travelers reported missed connections and hours-long delays while remaining stranded onboard taxiing aircraft or inside terminal waiting areas.
Meteorological reports forecast gradual clearing through the evening, but a yellow fog warning remains in place, prompting airlines and passengers to prepare for possible residual delays well into the night.
Lufthansa, Swiss, British Airways, Air China, Delta, Korean Air, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic faced major travel turmoil at London Heathrow as dense fog caused over one hundred delays and four cancellations, disrupting global flight operations.
What Travelers Should Know
Heathrow Airport has advised travelers to check with their airlines directly for real-time flight updates and allow extra time for transit and security checks, especially for rebookings and international connections. Passengers are also encouraged to monitor Heathrow’s live departure and arrival boards online before leaving for the airport.
This latest wave of fog-induced delays comes as Heathrow experiences a surge in spring travel demand, with airline operations ramping up for Easter holidays and upcoming travel peaks. Travel experts caution that such weather disruptions, although not uncommon in the UK, could strain tight airline schedules and ground staff availability.
