British Airways and easyJet flight cancellations strand 40,000 passengers

Severe thunderstorms over southeast England on the weekend of 29 June 2026 led air‑traffic control to restrict operations at Heathrow and Gatwick. British Airways cancelled around 100 flights at Heathrow and easyJet scrapped 82 services at Gatwick, leaving roughly 40,000 travellers stranded.

Under UK passenger‑rights rules the airlines must rebook passengers on the next available flight and provide meals and hotel accommodation where needed, but cash compensation is not payable. Affected routes included long‑haul services to Los Angeles, Hurghada and Antalya. NATS warned that the weather could continue to disrupt flights for the remainder of the period.