Heathrow and Gatwick face delays as thunderstorms disrupt over 600 flights

More than 600 flights were delayed and dozens cancelled at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports after thunderstorms followed a recent heatwave. The UK air traffic control service NATS warned that disruptions could continue until the end of the day. Flight‑tracking data from FlightAware showed at least 367 departures delayed at Heathrow and 352 at Gatwick, with some flights running up to six hours behind schedule.

Eurocontrol identified the two airports as the only UK sites experiencing “serious” weather‑related delays. Gatwick introduced temporary air‑traffic‑control restrictions, and airlines including EasyJet and British Airways issued apologies and adjusted their timetables. Passengers were urged to verify flight status before travelling. The Met Office kept an orange heat warning for parts of eastern and south‑eastern England, expecting further worsening of thunderstorm activity.