Snowy weather FAQs: will my flight be cancelled?

This week will see much of the country hit with its first wave of snowfall. Whilst only a light dusting for most, millions of Britons are starting to prepare for the black ice on roads and school closures which are usually associated with this time of year.

Those who are travelling by plane will be no doubt becoming anxious, as previous years have demonstrated that airlines often grind to a complete halt as snow sets in, sometimes leaving hundreds stranded.            

Why can’t a plane take off in snow?

There are a number of reasons why planes are affected by snowy weather. Firstly, ice on the wings of the plane causes false readings on instruments, increases the weight of the plane and affects the lift of the wings, which has been known to cause a number of takeoff accidents. Ice can also get into the inside of the plane affecting parts of the engine, fuel cells and instruments, and can cause the pilot to have trouble navigating. Another huge problem is visibility, which is thought to be the biggest contributing factor in 25% of aviation accidents. Whilst cancelled flights are a great annoyance to many, the key reason for these cancellations is safety.

Why does snow affect flights so badly?

One of the reasons planes are so affected by snow, compared to other modes of transport, is the tightly co-ordinated huge network of routes.

Car and train journeys, even cross country, cover a relatively small part of the globe and usually have the same weather. International flights, however, rely on the weather conditions of at least two very different destinations and can even be affected by bad weather across the planet to where you’re going to or leaving from. For example, even if the weather is fine where you are, your flight won’t depart if there’s a blizzard at your destination. And even if both places are fine, you still might not fly if your plane is grounded at another snowbound airport and cannot reach the place you’re departing from.

The backlog of passengers from cancelled and delayed flights as well as those who have missed their connections also causes further disruption. Airlines will normally make every effort to get displaced passengers to the correct destinations (particularly in the EU where airlines pay passengers’ expenses after delays) but you’re still likely to suffer from overbooked flights, especially after a few days of delays and cancellations.

Will my flight be cancelled?

If there have been only a few centimetres of snow or if it has started to thaw you are likely to be able to fly. Check the Met Office to see if it is issuing any severe weather warnings for your area in the next few days and sign up to SMS alerts if your airline offers them. For up to date departure information check your airline’s website before you leave for the airport. Some airlines will try to notify you of cancellations in advance if they can, but it is your responsibility to check before you travel to the airport.

Also see What to do if your flight is cancelled due to snow