Fog grounds Heathrow flights

All British Airways (BA) domestic flights into and out of Heathrow airport have been cancelled for the rest of the day due to heavy fog covering large areas of the south-east.

Around 80 departures have been cancelled so far and another 55 are currently delayed, according to the airport's website. Meanwhile, European and international flights are facing severe delays.

BA said in a statement: "Due to the dense fog and low visibility air traffic control has placed restrictions on how many flights can land and take-off each hour at London Heathrow.

"Flow rates have been at 50 per cent of normal capacity throughout the morning and this has affected all carriers at the airport.

"This situation is beyond BA's control and the airline is doing all it can to assist customers."

Although affecting all airlines, the delays cap a particularly bad week for BA, who yesterday told the BBC that 7,000 items of luggage are still missing after a baggage belt broke down at Heathrow's Terminal 4 on Sunday.

Travellers may find it harder than expected to escape the cold weather this festive season as fog and near freezing temperatures are forecast for Heathrow every day up to Christmas Eve.