SE England closed

[Tranceaddict]

LTN, Snow closed, all EZY flights cancelled for the rest of the day
STN, snow closed, estimated opening 1830
LGW, snow closed, estimated opening 1900
LCY, snow closed, estimated opening 1900

Diverts mainly to CWL and BHX at present

A fun evening ahead

[allanmack]

Presently stuck on the ramp at LHR trying to get to GLA. No flightdeck crew as yet and awaiting de-icer. It's now 1825 and been on board since 1625. Might be a long night.

[750XL]

Egcc

A3791/09 - Due Adverse Wx Disruption, Ad Not Avbl For Diversion Except In An
Emergency. 21 Dec 18:23 2009 Until 22 Dec 12:00 2009. Created: 21 Dec 18:24
2009

[nivsy]

Fairly major knock on effect. Friends flight from Bristol to Glasgow cancelled like many others out of Lulsgate (although very little snow there).

Sleazy Jet are bussing them North - how:} delightful!!

[Tranceaddict]

LCY re-opened 1838

[allanmack]

1855 and still awaiting de-icing. At least we now have a captain and co-pilot.

[Airbourne-Adamski]

LTN Area snow been falling since aprox 15.00 Now quite heavy at 19.30. Not currently at work at the airport but on live down the road, Not looking good.

[allanmack]

Now been sat on a BA 319 at LHR for 3 hrs 20. Troops getting a bit restless.

[Charley B]

Gatwick has now re-opened(in the last 5 mins):)

[Bournemouth Air]

Bournemouth been open all night - took around 15 diversions tonight

[DutchBird-757]

We actually took off from GLA and returned to GLA from just south over BHX at FL290. What a total nightmare scenario down there. Just no reasonable alternates available.

[Sir George Cayley]

If it's any consolation, as today is an equinox, the days start to get longer and summer is just around the corner:ok:

Of course, if airport managers invested time and money in training staff to use up to date equipment then UK plc would not be beset with these problems.

Unfortunately, the bean counters have worked out that the few days a year of disruption cost less, so in effect consign a known quantity of paying customers to a less than delightful experience for a few days a year.

If they got an electric shock each time a flight was canx due wx I bet the reaction would be more helpful.

Sir George Cayley

[Gaza]

Unfortunately, the bean counters have worked out that the few days a year of disruption cost less, so in effect consign a known quantity of paying customers to a less than delightful experience for a few days a year.

The way of the world I'm afraid. Harsh for those affected but broadly necessary for financial stability.

[Bealzebub]

If it's any consolation, as today is an equinox, the days start to get longer and summer is just around the corner

They do, but you will find it is the Winter solstice. The autumnal and vernal equinoxes take place around the 21st of September and March respectively.

[RED WINGS]

Dutch Bird, Why?? BHX and EMA were open and taking divert. As was CWL

[DutchBird-757]

Well, two reasons; A- commercial/operational reasons and; B- better for our passengers. Now you've got the aircraft back in the right place for the next day, and so are the crew. Passengers re-booked on a LHR bound BA flight. Then it turnes into an inconvenience rather than an expensive problem for both passengers and company. I strongly believe it's better for pax to return to GLA than to be stranded somewhere where you really don't want to be hoping for transport, accomodation etc. CWL and EMA were pointless options, especially EMA being relatively close to GLA. Now most of them went home and had a cup of tea and slept in their own bed again. That's what I would have wanted as a pax.

Forecast for south coast airports was generally 600m vis FZFG no vertical viss, snow, and very cold. Every man and his dog started diverting all over the place resulting in sort of a 'controlled chaos' everywhere. So there's no sensible way to justify pushing on. Certainly an interesting and busy night...:eek: