Thunderstorms disrupt hundreds of London flights over weekend

Thunderstorms triggered by record high temperatures were partly to blame for hundreds of flight delays and cancellations at London airports over the weekend.

More than 900 inbound and outbound flights at Heathrow and Gatwick were reportedly delayed for up to 11 hours and dozens cancelled on Saturday.

UK air traffic control service Nats said adverse weather conditions meant aircraft needed to "avoid affected areas and be spaced further apart".

The two airports advised passengers to check the status of their flights with airlines before travelling.

More than 474 flights arriving at or departing from Heathrow were delayed and another 439 in and out of Gatwick on Saturday, according to flight tracking platform FlightAware, reported by the BBC.

Eurocontrol mapping showed the most severe air traffic control delays were in airspace between southeast England and northwestern Europe, where the storm clouds were located.

Other UK airports were largely unaffected.

Nats said on Saturday: "Severe thunderstorms across the southeast of England and Europe continue to impact flights, and this is expected to continue for the remainder of today and overnight. 

"To ensure the safety of the travelling public, aircraft need to avoid affected areas and be spaced further apart, which limits the number of flights that can operate safely.

"We understand disruption is frustrating, but we’re working closely with airlines and airports to reduce disruption as much as possible. 

"Passengers should continue to contact their airline for the latest information on their flight."

Nats added that the forecast in UK airspace looked generally fine on Sunday, but that further thunderstorms were forecast in Europe, which may have a further impact on travel routes across the continent.

The thunderstorms developed following a record-breaking heatwave, with the UK’s hottest ever June high of 37.3C recorded in Suffolk on Friday.