UK: Christmas Eve flights disrupted due to fog

Flights to and from the Channel Islands have been delayed, diverted or cancelled because of poor weather.

Tuesday’s forecast in both Guernsey and Jersey is overcast and misty, with fog patches and a little light drizzle until sunset just after 16:00 GMT.

Jersey Airport said it had extended its opening hours to help passengers affected by disruptions, while most flights in and out of Guernsey on Tuesday morning were delayed, with some cancellations.

Staff at Jersey Airport advised passengers to check in as normal, with airlines set to give updated information.

The Ports of Jersey said a total of 860 people were trying to leave Jersey and 1,368 were due to arrive.Guernsey airline Aurigny said: “We are currently experiencing low visibility in Guernsey that is causing slight delays on our services today.

“We understand how important travel is on Christmas Eve, and we recognise how frustrating the weather disruptions are – especially today of all days.”

The airline said it had partnered with Avanti Air to provide additional planes and had booked passengers to and from Alderney on to ferries.

Ross Coppolo, managing director of Guernsey Ports, which runs the airport, said he was “hopeful” the weather would clear in the afternoon, allowing flights to catch up.

Sarah Louise Stubbs, head of customer operations at Jersey Airport, said improvement was expected for Guernsey at about 16:00 and 19:00 GMT for Jersey.

She said: “There is no place for us to open tomorrow but we will be remaining open for as long as possible this evening to make sure that all our passengers are with their friends and family where they should be for Christmas.

“All I can ask is that all passengers check in on time and to work closely with the airline for any advice that they’re giving.”

Luna Pinto Baker said her flight from Jersey to Gatwick was cancelled on Tuesday morning but she hoped to get away in the evening on a new flight to Heathrow.

She said: “It wasn’t my Christmas Eve plans but I’m feeling fine.

“They’ve done a good job to do what they can, they can’t really control the mist and that’s bad luck that it arrived today, but that’s the way it is.”

Andrew Evans was meant to fly into Manchester from Jersey at 09:00 but the flight has been delayed until 18:40.

He said he was “pretty optimistic” he would still get to Manchester.

“I’ve been checking the weather forecast and you can see the fog lifting a little bit, hoping that that’s right and eventually we’ll get off the island.”

Richard Benn, also on the same Manchester flight, said he had booked a different flight to Liverpool on Tuesday evening in case the other was cancelled, noting “that’s just Jersey” when it came to fog issues.

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