US flights grounded by blizzards
New York, and other east coast cities, have been hit by snow
Twenty-nine flights between London Heathrow and the US east coast have been cancelled after the region was hit by severe blizzards.
The UK cancellations were among more than 1,000 flights in the Midwest and North-east US that were snowed in.
Flights between Heathrow and Manchester and destinations including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington DC have been affected.
Virgin Atlantic, United, American Airlines and BA had to change plans.
A Heathrow spokeswoman said there was “minor congestion”.
However, British Airways were checking in passengers “because they believe the airports are likely to reopen later”.
Most people whose flights were cancelled on Saturday were contacted before they got to the airport warning them not to turn up, she added.
In Pictures: US blizzard
“It’s not a situation where passengers are being left stranded – it’s all under control,” she said.
All British Airways flights between Heathrow and Baltimore, New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington were cancelled.
Virgin Atlantic said it cancelled four of its five New York services from Heathrow on Saturday, affecting around 650 passengers inbound and outbound.
One flight to New York was cancelled on Sunday morning, with doubt still lingering about an afternoon flight to Boston.
“We think that Washington and New York will be okay and we’re still monitoring the weather for Boston, as that’s one that may be cancelled later today,” a Virgin Atlantic spokewoman said.
Weather watch
“We think the weather is moving across – hopefully after today we shouldn’t have any more problems.”
United Airlines also said it had cancelled one flight to New York but was otherwise running a full schedule.
Two services which were due to fly from New York late on Saturday and arrive at Heathrow on Sunday were cancelled.
One flight to Manchester Airport from New York was cancelled, as well as a US Airlines flight from Philadelphia.
Passengers have been booked on alternative flights.
A Manchester airport spokeswoman said: “All other flights are operating as normal, but some are late,” including a Continental Airlines flight from Newark which is due to arrive at 1000 GMT on Monday – 27 hours late.
For travel updates see Ceefax flights index on page 440.
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January 23, 2005 at 1:30 pm