Travel chaos erupts across Britain as thousands of flights delayed or cancelled amid extreme weather

Travel chaos erupts across Britain as thousands of flights delayed or cancelled amid extreme weather reflects the scale of disruption tied to thunderstorms and heat-related conditions. More than 1,000 flights were grounded or delayed over the weekend after overnight air-traffic restrictions limited departures and arrivals, leaving thousands of holidaymakers stranded at terminals. Gatwick was hit hardest, with 391 delayed services and 31 cancellations, while Heathrow reported 383 flights delayed and 98 cancelled. Other airports, including Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford and London City, also saw significant disruption as aircraft avoided severe weather. Friday’s 37.3C temperature at Santon Downham in Suffolk marked the hottest June day ever recorded in Britain, breaking the 1976 benchmark. The Met Office maintained an amber extreme heat warning for London, the south east and East Anglia until Sunday morning, after consecutive days of red warnings. NATS said disruption would likely continue into Saturday, and airports urged passengers to check with their airlines; additional delays were reported in Edinburgh.