Heathrow and Gatwick flights delayed by thunderstorms, nearly 800 affected

Severe thunderstorms swept across southern England on Saturday, June 27, 2026, forcing temporary air‑traffic restrictions at the UK’s two biggest airports. At Heathrow, 377 flights were delayed, while Gatwick saw 399 delays, totaling close to 800 flights with some cancellations. Delays stretched up to 11 hours, leaving passengers stranded and prompting complaints on social media. Airlines such as British Airways and EasyJet adjusted schedules and offered refunds or accommodation where possible. The UK’s air‑traffic control provider NATS warned that disruption would continue through the day, and Eurocontrol highlighted that the most severe congestion occurred in airspace between south‑east England and north‑west Europe. The weather event followed a record‑breaking June heatwave that saw temperatures reach 37.3 °C, after which unstable air generated the thunderstorms. Meteorological services issued yellow thunderstorm warnings and noted the possibility of further storms over the weekend.