Delays And Cancellations At LHR Today - Why?

EGSUcrew · Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:35 pm

As it says in the question, just seen there are some pretty big delays today and cancellations at LHR, I was just wondering why?

Thanks.

David_itl · Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:38 pm

Fog all over southeast England. QF29 diverted to BRU, BA262 to CWL, VS8 to LAX and PK785 to MAN. Expect cancellations of the domestic services.

scrappy27 · Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:39 pm

Delays/cancellations due to Fog I believe.

EGSUcrew · Sun Nov 20, 2011 2:41 pm

I assumed it probably was, thanks for the reply.

It's cleared here now on the East Coast.

http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightStatus/flightStatusByAirport.do

eastern747 · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:23 pm

VS8 diverted to LAX? HUH?

FCAFLYBOY · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:25 pm

Actually here in Central East London it's coming back again and pretty quickly too.
I wonder if this will affect LHR later this afternoon.

Amazing sunset tonight though!

skinny · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:33 pm

Fog more like pea soup went down today for a day out you could not see anything at all.

I got there at 9am airfield covered in thick fog left at 3pm still thick fog take offs seemed ok i could hear them lol saw a few landings but was a wasted day nice egypt air 773 made it worth it i suppose.

David_itl · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:35 pm

Quoting EASTERN747 (Reply 4):
VS8 diverted to LAX? HUH?

oops, LGW. VS652 went to STN. CCA937 to DUS (!)

frigatebird · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:41 pm

Delays and cancellations all over Europe. Just re-booked a flight from LHR to AMS for friends who are stuck in a huge queue at LHR, same flight but a day later.

that one isn't cancelled as well, forecast for tomorrow is not much better. Maybe they can sub a widebody for tomorrow, re booking 3 cancelled flights out of 7 today to AMS will cause major headaches..

readytotaxi · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:48 pm

SW London and the fog is building again after it cleared a little, now 16:45, well it is November and to be expected.
Good luck with those having to re-book.
Just checked LHR arrvial board average delay is 2+ hrs

[Edited 2011-11-20 08:53:55]

soups · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:51 pm

Partner just flew in on BD ATQ-ALA-LHR and delayed 4h in ATQ as well. They sat on the tarmac in ATQ for 5hours. Good job he had a business class seat so he slept

Captaindoony · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:52 pm

I'm stuck at Heathrow! Down in London for the weekend and booked on BA 1314 which is cancelled. We've been rebooked on to BA 1316 which is now 5 HOURS late. Been here since 2.30pm and very angry. Raging.

[Edited 2011-11-20 08:54:04]

readytotaxi · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:57 pm

Quoting CaptainDoony (Reply 11):

So sorry to hear it. Pls be nice to the staff, not their fault.
Guess you have had it with plane spotting for the moment. Chin up.

Captaindoony · Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:59 pm

Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 12):

Of course I will! Weather is mental though, think we are getting meal vouchers.

readytotaxi · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:04 pm

Quoting CaptainDoony (Reply 13):
think we are getting meal vouchers.

So no firm take off time yet?

musapapaya · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:07 pm

My girlfriend was supposed to be flying on the BA Cityflyer flight from LCY to BCN this afternoon (1510 departure), it was only about 1545 they inform people that the flight is cancelled. She joined a long queue to rebook, but they gave her the 0615 from LHR to BCN! She said she could not be there that early as she lives in SE England, some hour from LCY. They refused to give her hotel as she lives in the UK! So if she lives in Scotland then she needs to sleep in the airport? They eventually gave her the 0730 departure.

Shame on the handling on BA in this case, I understand the weather issue, and that maybe LCY is not the best place for fog! However refusing to give her somewhere to stay for the night is just unbelievable. I can only hope she manages to find somewhere to stay with her friends (and not having to take a long journey home and need to get the LHR by 6ish).

Folks out there in the London airports - good luck!

regards
musapapaya

Captaindoony · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:13 pm

Quoting readytotaxi (Reply 14):

FIDS are saying "estimated 22.20" but if it stays like this I can see us staying in London for the night.

Lofty · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:21 pm

Been a crazy day LHR started (0600) by possible diversion from LGW to LHR not normal but happy to take them. Then the fog got worse and ATC started saying inbound flights over outbound so both LHR runways given over to arrivals as per the new trail. This lead to start-up delays of around 1hr plus which we then had for most of the morning. Main issue was fog hanging around over one runway and not the other.

AMS and CDG also not very good with AMS having inbound slot delays of around 3hrs.

bsu747 · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:22 pm

Kenya Airways KQ104 5Y-KQU B772 8,000ft
&
Jet Airways JAI122 VT-JEG B77W 18,000ft
Appear to be diverting to Manchester at the moment.

rutankrd · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:27 pm

VS301 G-VOGE Gone Stansted

readytotaxi · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:29 pm

Quoting bsu747 (Reply 18):

Yes KQ104 now at 2000 on final, guess the local coach companies will be smiling about now.

Jack · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:32 pm

Anyone know why planes go to MAN when BHX and EMA can handle and are ok weather wise?

Much easier to bus passengers from the midlands to London than from Manchester.

rutankrd · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:41 pm

Quoting Jack (Reply 21):
Anyone know why planes go to MAN when BHX and EMA can handle and are ok weather wise?

Much easier to bus passengers from the midlands to London than from Manchester.

Handling contracts company preference and ultimately pilot ATC and Airport acceptance.

Quite a few go back to Europe these days rather than trying a UK port.

China gone to Dusseldorf (Nearest operating station) Qantas gone to Brussels today but on its way back right now !
TAM and Japan tend to go to Paris. Air India also go to Paris but after last time (read elsewhere) may not in future.

BA use Cardiff and Birmingham Newcastle and Manchester

readytotaxi · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:52 pm

Quoting rutankrd (Reply 22):
BA use Cardiff and Birmingham Newcastle and Manchester

fog

Could this one have been tempted into STN and then change of plan?

rutankrd · Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:58 pm

Could this one have been tempted into STN and then change of plan?

Splash and dash!

readytotaxi · Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:07 pm

Quoting rutankrd (Reply 24):

here she comes.

more fog

Virginblue4 · Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:08 pm

I set up a thread earlier although it got deleted. A Jet 2 737 (G-CELO) went from GLA to LGW today? Was this due to fog? I am a bit confused about this one

rutankrd · Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:30 pm

QF29 Done a power up missed approach !

eastern747 · Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:35 pm

Train to Brussels, then to Amsterdam.......No big deal! and much more enjoyable....

readytotaxi · Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:38 pm

Quoting rutankrd (Reply 27):

second try

Looking good now.

And the fog seems to be thinning now. Wink

[Edited 2011-11-20 10:51:08]

Tristarsteve · Sun Nov 20, 2011 6:59 pm

Well BA operated two B767s to Venice today for a cruise ship charter.
The second one was diverted to Verona due Venice FOG.

DAL763ER · Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:19 pm

I was meant to be on BA329 landing at LHR but that was delayed to 02.30am soi called BA and am now on 327, which is delayed to 11.50pm instead of the scheduled 8.30pm. I am now playing on my iPad at CDG, hoping to get to London tonight

FCAFLYBOY · Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:22 pm

Quoting musapapaya (Reply 15):
My girlfriend was supposed to be flying on the BA Cityflyer flight from LCY to BCN this afternoon (1510 departure), it was only about 1545 they inform people that the flight is cancelled. She joined a long queue to rebook, but they gave her the 0615 from LHR to BCN! She said she could not be there that early as she lives in SE England, some hour from LCY. They refused to give her hotel as she lives in the UK! So if she lives in Scotland then she needs to sleep in the airport? They eventually gave her the 0730 departure.

With the upmost respect to yourself and your GF, perhaps by offering the earliest possible outbound to BCN the airline was actually trying to help, you know, by getting her there asap in the morning?

I don't disagree with BA's decision not to provide accommodation, if your GF only lives one hour away from LCY then surely home would be the best option anyway? I know where I'd rather be.

lgw340 · Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:23 pm

Yeah, Very foggy. I went to LGW to do some atmospheric foggy photos and got this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/6370978387/in/photostream

Most of the time. the aircraft weren't even visible. A Virgin Atlantic A340-600 landed which I assume was a LHR divert. That cleared the fog all the way down to the runway for a minute!

Thanks

Chris Goodwin

skipness1E · Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:35 pm

Got some awesome shots on 09L of the arrivals emerging from the clouds over the fence. Seemed odd that the NZ39 and CX257 seemed to arrive near to schedule.

EGSUcrew · Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:36 pm

Quoting LGW340 (Reply 33):
Yeah, Very foggy. I went to LGW to do some atmospheric foggy photos and got this

wow, very nice. There's something great about the fog!

LJ · Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:41 pm

Quoting lofty (Reply 17):

AMS and CDG also not very good with AMS having inbound slot delays of around 3hrs.

Tomorrow will not be better for AMS....(too bad as would usually get some diversions at AMS)

thus

Quoting EASTERN747 (Reply 28):
Train to Brussels, then to Amsterdam.......No big deal! and much more enjoyable....

Is probably not a bad idea (though it takes a lot of time).

crosswinds21 · Sun Nov 20, 2011 8:09 pm

Quoting lofty (Reply 17):

AMS and CDG also not very good with AMS having inbound slot delays of around 3hrs.

I just flew into AMS today from HEL.

The first thing to point out was that this is the densest fog that I have ever seen at any airport. When we were descending, the cloud layer was so low that when the IFE showed an altitude of around 300m, we were still in clear skies! Then, almost immediately after descending into the cloud layer, we landed. After landing, I could see next to nothing. Even the lights on the edge of the runway were barely visible.

The second thing to point out was that despite this fog, everything from my point of view seemed to be business as usual. Flight on time, smooth landing, quickly off the plane and onto the train, etc. Other flights (at least those around me) seemed to be getting in and out normally as well. I guess I got very lucky then!

santos · Sun Nov 20, 2011 8:31 pm

Lots of delays and cancelations still! I was due to fly on TP363 at 19.50, now scheduled at 22.30! At least I get to fly tonight, more fog on the forecast tomorrow! Maybe we will see a few unusual European wide bodies in LHR tomorrow.

oneworld77 · Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:15 pm

Lots of cancelations showing for Monday morning 21/11 already with delays from BA/BA and SK and a number of cancelled BA european arrivals.
BA just tweeted that delays are expected tomorrow too.

Nice.

RayChuang · Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:28 pm

Why so many cancellations, considering that LHR has ICAO Category IIIB landing equipment? Most modern airliners can land in pretty intense fog using Category IIIB conditions. That is unless they have turned off the equipment for repairs.

tropical · Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:49 pm

Quoting RayChuang (Reply 40):
Why so many cancellations, considering that LHR has ICAO Category IIIB landing equipment? Most modern airliners can land in pretty intense fog using Category IIIB conditions. That is unless they have turned off the equipment for repairs.

I was just going to ask the same question. Perhaps the problem is not the landing, but taxiing around? Presumably it takes longer to confirm the runway is clear for the next landing when they cannot see it and have to rely on the last arrival to confirm they've cleared the runway. Or something.

David_itl · Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:56 pm

KQ + 9W nightstopping at MAN.

oneworld77 · Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:56 pm

Still operating but despite grading this kind of weather will be reduced flow of t/o and landings. At an airport filled with 98% capacity, you have what we have today and tomorrow.
Or something!!

NZaholic · Sun Nov 20, 2011 11:12 pm

When LVP's (Low Visibility Procedures) are in force at somewhere like LHR, the delays build up quickly as the flow rate (eg, number of landings per hr) have to be significantly reduced. One of the reasons for this is due to the ILS critical areas being expanded during LVP's to ensure integrity of the ILS signals, which could otherwise be interefered with by taxiing aircraft. That is also why all CAT 3 equipped runways have additional holding points, further back from the runway, for use during CAT 3 ops.

lhr380 · Mon Nov 21, 2011 12:38 am

Well, the was a nice double shift!

Got to work after not seeing anything on the way in. Was very weird being in Flight Connections in T5 at 0600 and not even being able to see the tail of the plane parked right outside the window. I did not see T5B until about 11am. Then it started coming back in again and it seemed to get worse. Customers were all nice though, and even joked around with some of them as they knew there was nothing we could really do.

Gunna be a mess tomorrow though...

eastern747 · Mon Nov 21, 2011 2:05 am

Now wouldn't it better sitting in a nice comfortable LARGE train seat, having a pleasant wine or cocktail, reading your book, lisenting to your music..........then sitting in a noisy, smelly airport-not going anyhere. As much as love flying, give me a train between DCA-NYC-BOS The whole stress of flying leaves me exhausted!!!! My opinion, please don't dump on me..

RayChuang · Mon Nov 21, 2011 3:20 am

Quoting EASTERN747 (Reply 46):
Now wouldn't it better sitting in a nice comfortable LARGE train seat, having a pleasant wine or cocktail, reading your book, lisenting to your music..........then sitting in a noisy, smelly airport-not going anyhere. As much as love flying, give me a train between DCA-NYC-BOS The whole stress of flying leaves me exhausted!!!! My opinion, please don't dump on me..

One good reason why Eurostar quickly overtook passenger flights for travel between Paris and London for numbers of passengers per year--and this was before the High Speed 1 line was fully completed!

1peter · Mon Nov 21, 2011 4:50 am

It's gonna be a fun day again as these have already been chopped.

BA1474 GLA
BA578/BA579 VCE
BA306 CDG
BA712 ZRH
BA906/BA907 FRA
BA814/BA815 CPH
BA950/BA951 MUC
BA346/BA347 NCE
BA778/BA779 ARN
BA600/BA601 PSA
BA394/BA395 BRU
BA1390/BA1395 MAN
BA794/BA799 HEL

vv701 · Mon Nov 21, 2011 9:57 am

Here's a review of the Sunday situation and an update on what sounds to be an improving situation on early Monday morning:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/dense-fog-d...ts-flight-schedules-033432766.html

But I guess with aircraft out of position delays and cancellations are bound to continue into tomorrow (Tuesday) even if the fog does not return.

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