Air Canada cancels flights to London's Heathrow

ctvtoronto.ca

Air Canada has cancelled flights to London because of a winter storm which has caused delays and cancellations across much of Europe.

The airline warned on its website Saturday that "flights may be impacted by forecasted adverse winter storm conditions."

A dozen flights between Toronto and London were directly affected by the weather. Meanwhile, several flights from Vancouver and Montreal to Heathrow were also scrapped.

"We currently have hundreds of staff working to clear the runways, taxiways, stands and forecourts and are providing blankets and water for passengers as we strive to get Heathrow moving," an airport statement said.

The U.K has been hit with the heaviest December snowfall in nearly three decades, and many other Western European countries are also under a dump of snow.

It's expected that the cancellation will last into Sunday, leaving hundreds of trans-Atlantic travellers stranded only a week before Christmas.

"Air Canada is monitoring the situation closely and is working to get you on your way safely and as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding," the airline's statement said.

London's Gatwick airport is also a mess as travellers struggle to navigate snarled airline traffic.

In fact, the airport had been shut down on Saturday as crews struggled to clear away large amounts of snow which made landing aircraft impossible. Later on Saturday, the transport hub managed to reopen after 150 staffers with snowplows managed to clear a runway.

In France, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, major airports have been locked in a virtual standstill, with the cancellations and delays rippling through other major airports.

Air Canada has launched a rebooking tool to ensure that those with affected connecting flights can change travel plans ahead of time and avoid long lines at airports.

The airline is also asking customers to delay non-essential travel as staff attempt to reschedule flights.

• To check the status of your flight, call Air Canada's automated information system at 1-888-422-7533.

Meanwhile, road travel in parts of Europe is also treacherous, with many Britons complaining about snow-clearing delays on major routes. In fact, some motorists near Oxford were forced to abandon their cars on the weekend.

"One of the biggest problems is that large amounts of snow are falling very quickly on to frozen surfaces, making driving hazardous," said Automobile Association official Darron Burness.

With files from The Associated Press

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