Travel chaos has descended on the UK’s motorways and airports on Christmas Eve as a crash involving a van has caused the M40 to shut while flights have been grounded.
National Highways said the part of the M40 in Oxfordshire is closed southbound between J8A, near Waterstock, and J6, near Lewknor, to recover an overturned HGV involved in an earlier collision.
Millions of journeys are set to be made across the UK’s roads on Christmas Eve in what is expected to be the busiest day of the festive season.
Of the around 29.3 million Christmas journeys the RAC estimated would take place between Wednesday and 24 December, 3.76 million are predicted to be made today, with drivers who must travel on 24 December urged to do so after 4pm.
Meanwhile, American Airlines has now lifted an hour-long ground stop of all its flights in the US due to an unspecified technical issue, a notice on the US aviation regulator’s website showed – although there are fears of consequent delays at airports.
Thousands of travellers faced flight, ferry and train cancellations over the weekend amid a “perfect storm” of adverse weather conditions and road congestion.
However, conditions are expected to improve this week after the widespread disruption, with the Met Office currently predicting a “grey Christmas” with some sunny spells and “extremely mild” temperatures.
KEY POINTS
- Part of M40 closed after lorry crash
- American Airlines grounds all US flights on Christmas Eve
- Traffic chaos feared as millions set to take to roads on busiest day to travel over Christmas
- M1 reopens after van fire but drivers still warned of delays
- Conditions expected to improve after bad weather disrupts Christmas travel
- Dozens of flights delayed or cancelled after Belfast City runway blocked by stricken plane
This is the end of our live coverage
15:27 , Tara CobhamThis is the end of our live coverage – thank you for following this blog.
Visit The Independent’s homepage for all the latest updates.
M40 reopens following lorry crash
15:22 , Tara CobhamThe M40 has reopened following a crash involving a lorry, although drivers are still warned of delays and congestion.
National Highways said two lanes are now open on the M40 in Oxfordshire, southbound between J8A, near Waterstock, and J6, near Lewknor.
However, one lane does remain closed for barrier repairs after the collision earlier in which a lorry overturned.
Motorists should expect delays of around 20 minutes, with one mile of congestion.
American Airlines cleared after regulators ordered grounding of all flights
14:30 , Tara CobhamAmerican Airlines flights were cleared to fly by regulators early on Tuesday after a brief grounding due to a systemwide technical issue.
Just before 7am Eastern time, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered all American Airlines flights grounded in the US at the airline's request.
American had reported a technical issue affecting its entire system with millions traveling for the holiday.
In social media replies to frustrated travellers, the airline said: "Our team is currently working to rectify this. Your continued patience is appreciated."
The company has not issued a press release explaining the issue and an email requesting a comment was not immediately returned.
A post on the Federal Aviation Administration's website acknowledged the airline's request for a "nationwide groundstop" for all American Airlines planes and their subsidiary airlines.
The grounding occurred with millions of travellers expected to fly over the next 10 days.
The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers over the holidays and through 2 January.
How to avoid travel chaos on road and rail this Christmas and New Year
14:00 , Tara CobhamAmber warnings for traffic gridlock, threatened strikes and the traditional rail engineering work interrupting major train links: it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
The festive season this winter will be busier than ever, with record numbers of travellers predicted at London Heathrow and many other airports, as well as on Britain’s motorways.
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder outlines the key pinch points and potential problems – to help you plan to swerve the disruption, or at least to be prepared for crowds and chaos:
How to avoid travel chaos on road and rail this Christmas and New Year
Long delays at Heathrow for American Airlines passengers
13:26 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderAmerican Airlines passengers at London Heathrow endured a painful wait when their transatlantic flights were halted by the carrier’s network-wide ground stop.
Two American Airlines flights, AA109 to Boston and AA729 to Philadelphia, took off shortly after 11am – minutes before the order was issued.
The following flight, AA137 to Los Angeles, pushed back from the gate on schedule at 11.15am – but then held on the ground until the order was lifted. It finally took off at 1pm and is expected to reach California over an hour late – jeopardising onward connections.
The next American Airlines departure from Heathrow, AA57 to Miami, spent 75 minutes on the ground before taking off.
Five more American Airlines flights are due to leave before 2pm but may be delayed.
American Airlines lifts ground stop after unspecified technical issue
13:08 , Tara CobhamAmerican Airlines has now lifted an hour-long ground stop of all its flights in the US, a notice on the US aviation regulator’s website showed.
The ground stop on Tuesday was due to an unspecified technical issue.
American Airlines grounds all US flights on Christmas Eve
13:00 , Tara CobhamAmerican Airlines has grounded its flights across the US on Christmas Eve amid one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
“A technical issue is affecting American flights this morning,” an airline spokesperson told CNN Tuesday morning. “Our teams are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, and we apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”
The airline wrote on X in response to one passenger that it is “currently experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines flights.
My colleague Amelia Neath reports on this breaking news story:
Part of M40 closed after lorry crash
12:57 , Tara CobhamPart of the M40 has been closed following a crash involving a lorry.
National Highways said the #M40 in Oxfordshire is closed southbound between J8A, near Waterstock, and J6, near Lewknor, to recover an overturned HGV involved in an earlier collision.
The #M40 in #Oxfordshire is closed southbound between J8A #Waterstock and J6 #Lewknor to recover an overturned HGV involved in an earlier collision.
— National Highways: East (@HighwaysEAST) December 24, 2024
There is around 45 minute delays on approach.
More information and diversion route here: https://t.co/oAnDUocmJ4 pic.twitter.com/UhSUGFR7nc
Channel Islands cut off by fog
12:41 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderTravellers seeking to fly between the UK and the Channel Islands have faced diversions and cancellations.
Two easyJet flights to Jersey – from London Gatwick and Manchester – flew to the islands, circled in the hope of landing but then returned to their starting points.
British Airways also returned one Gatwick-Jersey flight to its starting point, and cancelled another morning service.
To Guernsey, two Aurigny flights from London diverted in quick succession. One, from Gatwick, headed for Southampton; the other, from London City, landed in Exeter.
Fog is predicted until nightfall.
Britons enjoying ‘remarkably mild’ Christmas Eve as travellers head home for festive season
12:00 , Tara CobhamBritons are enjoying a “remarkably mild” Christmas Eve as shoppers dash to buy last-minute gifts and travellers head home for the festive season.
Although conditions on Tuesday are expected to be “grey and gloomy”, it will be the warmest day of the week, with highs of up to 15C in north east Wales, according to the Met Office.
This is slightly lower than the warmest Christmas Eve on record – when a high of 15.6C was measured at Gordon Castle in Banff and in Craibstone, Aberdeenshire, in 1931.
The Midlands, north east England and north east Scotland may see some “brighter spells”, but it will be largely cloudy for most of the country, the weather service added.
In an online forecast, Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “It’s just going to stay cloudy, a lot of low cloud covering the hills of the west, misty around the coast, drizzle here and there, particularly for north west England, and more especially western Scotland – where the rain will be persistent through the rest of the day with a strengthening south westerly wind.
“But with all of this cloud coming from the Atlantic, it is going to be a remarkably mild Christmas Eve.”
Any other options for getting around the UK on Christmas Day other than car or bus?
11:30 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderIf you’re not a hitchhiker, then there are more domestic flights than ever to and from London Heathrow on British Airways for 25 December.
Manchester: four return trips with fares at £184 northbound, £115 southbound.
Newcastle: three return trips, as low as £44 northbound, £125 southbound.
Edinburgh: three return trips, from £141 northbound, £181 southbound.
Glasgow: three return trips, from £143 northbound, £145 southbound.
These are the trains you can board on Christmas Day
11:00 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderSome trains will run in the UK on Christmas Day – but only in the London area, and mostly as brief continuations of Christmas Eve services. They all involve London Liverpool Street, the busiest station in the country, and include:
12.01am: London Liverpool Street via Paddington and Slough to Maidenhead, arriving 12.58am.
12.07am: London Paddington via Liverpool Street to Shenfield in Essex, arriving at 1.03am.
12.07am: Bishops Stortford via Harlow Town to London Liverpool Street, arriving 12.50am.
12.14am: London Paddington via Liverpool Street to Whitechapel, arriving at 12.27am.
12.22am: London Paddington via Liverpool Street to Shenfield, arriving at 1.22am.
12.01am: Goodmayes in Essex via London Liverpool Street to Paddington, arriving at 12.35am.
Ferry services closing down early on Christmas Eve – but Eurotunnel stays open
10:30 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderOn the main links to northern France from Dover, the last departure to Dunkirk on DFDS is 2pm, and to Calais on P&O Ferries at 3.05pm.
On Boxing Day, the first ferry out from Dover to Calais is scheduled for 9.10am and to Dunkirk at 10am, both on DFDS. Coming back to the UK, routes restart at 10am (from Dunkirk) and 11.20am (from Calais) on Boxing Day.
Eurotunnel’s LeShuttle from Folkestone to Calais, however, keeps going 365 days a year.
Isle of Wight ferries across the Solent will wind down around 6 or 7pm on Christmas Eve, with no sailings on 25 December.
The UK’s only hovercraft link, from Southsea in Hampshire to Ryde on the Isle of Wight, closes from 6.30pm on Christmas Eve to 6.30am on Friday 27 December.
Ferry travellers hard-hit this festive season
10:00 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderSpace for vehicles and passengers on ferries across the Irish Sea is scarcer than in any previous festive season. The main link between Great Britain and the island of Ireland, from Holyhead to Dublin, is closed due to damage caused by Storm Darragh.
Many families were planning to circumvent the closure by using the ferry from Cairnryan to either Larne or Belfast in Northern Ireland.
But on Sunday 22 December almost all of those links were cancelled due to severe weather conditions. To try and alleviate the build-up of freight and passenger traffic at ports, Stena Line has added an extra sailing between Thursday and Cairnryan – in both directions – on 24 December.
On Caledonian MacBrayne routes in Scotland the links from Mallaig to Armadale in southern Skye and the Small Isles have been cancelled on Christmas Eve because of forecast adverse weather. Several ferry links from Oban have been moved earlier to try to avoid the worst of the weather. And from Wemyss Bay to the Isle of Bute, fog may put paid to 24 December sailings.
Traffic chaos feared as millions set to take to roads on busiest day to travel over Christmas
09:39 , Tara CobhamMillions of journeys are set to be made across the UK on Christmas Eve in what is expected to be the busiest day of the festive season, leading to fears of traffic chaos.
Of the around 29.3 million Christmas journeys that the RAC estimated would take place between Wednesday and 24 December, 3.76 million are predicted to be made today, the highest number of journeys in a day over the festive week.
The RAC urges drivers who must travel on 24 December to do so outside of the hours of 10am to 4pm, amid concerns there will be a build-up of congestion on the roads as people head home for Christmas.
Why did Heathrow cancel flights so early?
09:30 , Tara CobhamTravel correspondent Simon Calder answers your questions on axed flights, Avanti strikes and station soft spots:
What buses are running on Christmas Day?
09:00 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderNational Express, Megabus and FlixBus will operate many hundreds of coach journeys between them on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, including to and from airports.
National Express has added departures between central London and Luton and Stansted airports, as well as extra coaches from Bristol, Norwich, Manchester and Livepool to London. Additional services will also connect Liverpool with Manchester (city and airport) and Leeds. More coaches will run from South Wales and Bristol to Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
Advance booking is strongly recommended, especially for airport links. National Express is offering a 10 per cent discount for online bookings in December using the promo code DEC10.
Some local bus services will run on 25 December. In Merseyside, 10 routes are operating – mainly serving hospitals – and all buses are free for the day.
Edinburgh residents can use a reasonably comprehensive network, including regular buses between the centre of the Scottish capital and the airports.
In Manchester, the only Christmas Day service will be bus 43 between Manchester airport and Piccadilly, once an hour.
Gatwick airport will have regular buses from Crawley, while Slough is connected with Heathrow airport all day.
On the Isle of Wight, Southern Vectis will run a near-normal schedule on Christmas Day.
Elsewhere, some other local operators have a skeleton service, particularly linking hospitals.
Which trains are running on Boxing Day?
08:30 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderScotland’s central belt will have many trains running, centred on Edinburgh and Glasgow. The biggest 26 December operation for decades will see links between the two cities and extending north and northeast to Perth, Dundee and Arbroath, as well as a busy network in Strathclyde.
In England, trains will be extremely rare. Those that will run include:
- London Underground and Docklands Light Railway on a reduced Sunday service; the Elizabeth Line will not operate.
- London Overground between Highbury & Islington and West Croydon and between Clapham Junction and Stratford.
- London Victoria-Gatwick Airport-Brighton: hourly services from 8.30am to 8.30pm. Some other south London suburban trains will run to and from Victoria.
- Tottenham Hale-Stansted Airport: half-hourly services from 6.45am to 11.15pm. Tottenham Hale is on the Victoria Line of the London Underground, which will be running.
- Merseyrail (local network around Liverpool): 9am-6pm, not all lines/stations. “Additional services will be available between Liverpool and Aintree to support those attending the Boxing Day races,” the train operator says.
No trains will run in Wales or Northern Ireland.
Eurostar will run a full service from London St Pancras International to Paris (15 trains each way) and Brussels (eight trains each way).
Worst times for driving during ‘record festive getaway’ revealed by RAC
08:00 , Andy GregoryDrivers have been warned which major routes to avoid this Christmas season as experts predict a record number of festive trips will be made.
Around 29.3 million Christmas journeys will take place between Wednesday and 24 December, the RAC has estimated, with nearly half taking place on the pre-Christmas weekend alone.
Surveying over 2,000 drivers, the motoring group has urged festive commuters when to avoid major routes over the coming days.
My colleague Albert Toth has more in this report:
Christmas travel: Worst times for driving during ‘record getaway’ revealed
For rail passengers, today is all about timing
07:33 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderTrains will start to go home to their depots for Christmas from late afternoon onwards, with services on most routes shutting down early. Last direct trains on key intercity routes on 24 December include:
- London King’s Cross-Edinburgh: 5.30pm/Edinburgh-London King’s Cross: 4.13pm
- London Euston-Manchester Piccadilly: 5.55pm/Manchester Piccadilly-London Euston: 6.13pm
- London Paddington-Cardiff Central: 7.48pm/Cardiff Central-London Paddington: 8.18pm
- London Victoria-Gatwick Airport: 8.45pm/Gatwick Airport-London Victoria: 7.32pm
- Bristol Temple Meads-Leeds: 4.35pm/Leeds-Bristol Temple Meads: 4.11pm
- Glasgow Queen Street-Aberdeen: 6.41pm/Aberdeen-Glasgow Queen Street: 6.36pm
No passenger trains will run on any UK rail line on Christmas Day.
All Caledonian Sleeper services between London and Scotland are cancelled until Friday 27 December, while the Night Riviera Sleeper linking London with Plymouth and Penzance is out of action until Friday 3 January.
Mapped: Where to expect the worst traffic jams this Christmas
07:00 , Andy GregoryDrivers planning Christmas getaways have been warned by the AA to expect possible congestion over the run-up to Christmas in the following areas:
Worst train stations for cancellations in 2024 revealed
06:00 , Andy GregoryManchester Victoria has been revealed as the station with the highest percentage of service cancellations in 2024 in an analysis of the busiest train stations in the UK.
Around 9.5 per cent of all scheduled stops in Manchester Victoria were found to have been cancelled between January and November this year, according to a BBC analysis of National Rail figures collected by train data website On Time Trains.
More than three million stops were cancelled across the UK between January and November this year, which amounts to 3.8 per cent of nearly 83 million scheduled.
The north-west of England was the worst region for cancellations due to having the highest rate at 6.5 per cent, which amounts to 611,047 cancellations.
My colleague Amelia Neath reports:
The airport luggage mistake which could cost you this Christmas
05:00 , Andy GregoryHolidaymakers flying ahead of 25 December will have checked their suitcase and probably packed it twice – but it’s best to leave the gift wrapping until you land.
Whether headed for a destination Christmas or visiting far-flung family, travellers may want to keep sentimental gifts close in their carry-on when taking off.
But, passengers are now being warned to ditch wrapping efforts before passing through security checks to avoid line delays and gift confiscations.
Natalie Wilson has more details in this report:
The airport luggage mistake which could cost you this Christmas
An acceptable level of travel cancellations? Discuss
04:00 , Andy Gregory
Your guide to passengers' rights if your flight is cancelled.
03:00 , Andy GregoryFlight delays: What rights do you have to compensation if your plane is late?
Which parts of Europe will see a White Christmas?
02:00 , Andy GregoryIt's not going to be a white Christmas in the UK but across southeast Europe and Turkey, Storm Elena will bring strong winds, rough seas and some heavy rain 🎄
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 23, 2024
There'll also be heavy snow in places, especially in higher parts of Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina ❄️ pic.twitter.com/TBkDbWCM4H
ICYMI: Plane crash lands in high winds at UK airport
01:00 , Andy GregoryA plane crash-landed in high winds at a Belfast airport as poor weather disrupted travel across the UK in the run-up to Christmas.
Belfast City Airport was forced to enact emergency procedures on Sunday after a plane’s nose wheel collapsed upon landing in adverse weather conditions. There were no reported injuries.
Plane crash lands in high winds at UK airport as weather disrupts Christmas travel
The remote island perfect for winter sun that you’ve probably never heard of
00:01 , Andy GregoryFor anyone still eyeing up a sunny escape this winter, or those looking ahead to next, Sarah Marshall reports on one largely undiscovered destination akin to a Caribbean getaway, and whose sandy, unspoilt beaches are equally first class:
The remote island perfect for winter sun that you’ve probably never heard of
Everything to remember if you’re flying away this Christmas
Monday 23 December 2024 23:01 , Andy GregoryMillions of passengers will travel through UK airports over the Christmas and New Year spell: being reunited with loved ones or making great escapes to warmer or snowier destinations.
Yet the last two weeks of December 2024 is shaping up to be the busiest festive season ever – and a series of obstacles stands between you and your destination.
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder details the seven key hurdles here:
Visual UK forecast shows weather expected on Christmas Eve
Monday 23 December 2024 22:00 , Andy GregoryThe Met Office has provided this visualisation of how weather conditions are expected to progress over the course of tomorrow:
A mild and cloudy #ChristmasEve for most of us and rather damp in places too ☁️ pic.twitter.com/5DwKTlRYjJ
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 23, 2024
What is the Met Office’s UK forecast?
Monday 23 December 2024 21:00 , Andy GregoryThis Evening and Tonight:
A rather cloudy and murky night for many, but turning damp with some patchy rain and drizzle, especially over hills in the west. A milder night for all, but windy in the north.
Christmas Eve:
A mostly cloudy Christmas Eve, but some brightness developing to the east of high ground. Damp for many initially, but rain becoming mainly confined to the northwest later. Much milder.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day:
Remaining rather cloudy but mild throughout Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Some patchy rain at times, especially in the northwest. Slightly cooler by Friday, with perhaps a little more brightness.
Weather map: Met Office’s snow forecast for Christmas week
Monday 23 December 2024 20:01 , Andy GregoryThe Met Office has revealed where and when snow is expected to fall in the UK over the Christmas period.
My colleague Tara Cobham has the details in this report:
UK weather map: Met Office’s snow forecast for Christmas week
Wind speeds hit 82mph over weekend as temperatures fell below freezing
Monday 23 December 2024 19:06 , Andy GregoryThe strongest wind speed over the weekend was 82mph recorded at Kirkwall on Orkney and the South Uist Range in the Outer Hebrides, according to the Met Office.
The weekend’s lowest temperature was recorded at Killylane in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, where the mercury fell to -0.4C on Sunday.
Extra sailings between Scotland and Northern Ireland after ferry cancellations
Monday 23 December 2024 18:01 , Simon Calder, Travel CorrespondentSpace for vehicles and passengers on ferries across the Irish Sea is scarcer than in any previous festive season.
The main link between Great Britain and the island of Ireland, from Holyhead to Dublin, is closed due to damage caused by Storm Darragh.
Many families were planning to circumvent the closure by using the ferry from Cairnryan to either Larne or Belfast in Northern Ireland.
But on Sunday 22 December almost all of those links were cancelled due to severe weather conditions.
To try and alleviate the build-up of freight and passenger traffic at ports, Stena Line has added an extra sailing between Thursday and Cairnryan – in both directions – on 24 December.
The ferry firm says it has “very limited space available” on its earlier Christmas Eve sailings.
Stena Line trade director Paul Grant said: “Our colleagues have worked around the clock to assist anyone who still needs to travel, and I am pleased to confirm we have added an extra 11.30pm sailing on Christmas Eve from both Belfast and Cairnryan. “We sincerely appreciate and thank everyone for their support and patience during what has been a very difficult few weeks across all our Irish Sea routes.”
More than 21 million motorists to hit roads on Christmas Eve
Monday 23 December 2024 17:33 , Andy GregoryThe AA forecasts that there will be around 22.7 million drivers on the road on Monday, with a further 21.6 million on Christmas Eve.
AA expresses hopes for smooth driving conditions except for ‘usual hotspots'
Monday 23 December 2024 16:57 , Andy GregoryThe AA said the combination of milder weather and the number of journeys already means the remainder of the Christmas getaway should be relatively smooth, except for some hold-ups in the “usual hotpots” such as the M25, M1 and M6.
AA president Edmund King said: “Even though millions of people have already made trips over the Christmas period, the roads have coped relatively well with the traffic.
“With Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, drivers have already had four different days to travel. Most journeys have been relatively short, and the majority have been under 50 miles.
“Strategic roads and motorways near shopping centres have suffered the brunt of the congestion alongside some of the roads affected by adverse weather in Scotland and the North.”
Single longest Christmas closure of crucial rail line gets under way
Monday 23 December 2024 16:30 , Andy GregoryOur travel correspondent Simon Calder reports:
The single longest Christmas closure of a crucial rail line has begun – and continues until the start of services on Monday 6 January.
The South Western Railway main line, linking London Waterloo with Winchester, Southampton and Bournemouth, will be closed between Woking and Basingstoke. The main work-around is to run one train an hour from London to Weymouth via Guildford and Havant, severely reducing capacity and adding 40 minutes to journey times.
Nonstop rail replacement buses will run between Woking and Basingstoke, where passengers can connect with trains to/from Salisbury and Exeter.
How to avoid travel chaos on road and rail this Christmas and New Year
Monday 23 December 2024 16:00 , Tara CobhamAmber warnings for traffic gridlock, threatened strikes and the traditional rail engineering work interrupting major train links: it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
The festive season this winter will be busier than ever, with record numbers of travellers predicted at London Heathrow and many other airports, as well as on Britain’s motorways.
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder explorers the key pinch points and potential problems – to help you plan to swerve the disruption, or at least to be prepared for crowds and chaos.
How to avoid travel chaos on road and rail this Christmas and New Year
Christmas getaway period nears its end – but tens of millions of drivers still yet to hit the road
Monday 23 December 2024 15:30 , Tara CobhamThe Christmas getaway period is nearing its end, although tens of millions of drivers are still yet to hit the road.
The AA is forecasting there will be around 22.7 million drivers on the road on Monday, with 21.6 million on Christmas Eve.
AA president Edmund King said the UK’s roads have so far “coped relatively well with the traffic”.
He went on: “With Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday, drivers have already had four different days to travel.
“Most journeys have been relatively short, and the majority have been under 50 miles.
“Strategic roads and motorways near shopping centres have suffered the brunt of the congestion alongside some of the roads affected by adverse weather in Scotland and the North.”
Met Office forecasts ‘mild’ weather conditions won’t cause disruption during Christmas getaway
Monday 23 December 2024 15:00 , Tara CobhamThe Met Office has forecast a “mild Christmas” with weather conditions not expected to contribute to any disruption to roads as people travel home for the festive period.
Spokesman for the weather service Oli Claydon predicted “notably high temperatures” over the next few days, although added that this “doesn’t necessarily bring sunny skies unfortunately”.
Mr Claydon said: “The key notable factor of the weather through this week really is the mild conditions and higher temperatures.
“The risk of ice and any snow that we had over the weekend has diminished, and no notable heavy rain should bring any impacts to the transport network.”
He added that Christmas Eve on Tuesday was expected to be the mildest day with temperatures of 14C and potentially even up to 15C in some places.
Mr Claydon said a mild Christmas Eve could be fairly widespread from Torbay in Devon to the north east of Scotland, adding that temperatures in Scotland and Northern Ireland were “markedly above average” for the time of year.
He said Christmas Day on Wednesday would be a little less mild, with highs of 13C and maybe 14C.
He added that temperatures would tail off slowly towards the end of the week.
Met Office’s forecast for this afternoon predicts much less windy conditions for travellers
Monday 23 December 2024 14:30 , Tara CobhamThe Met Office has released its latest forecast for this afternoon, predicting much less windy conditions for travellers.
In a post on social media, the forecaster says: “A cloudy afternoon for most with periods of rain and drizzle spreading eastwards.
“Turning mild in the west but feeling chilly in the east, albeit much less windy than over the weekend.”
A cloudy afternoon for most with periods of rain and drizzle spreading eastwards 🌧️
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 23, 2024
Turning mild in the west but feeling chilly in the east, albeit much less windy than over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/wuvRZUUeae
Travelling with kids as a divorced or separated parent this Christmas? All the legalities you need to know
Monday 23 December 2024 13:30 , Tara CobhamLawyers have warned divorced or separated parents who are planning to go on holiday with their children over the Christmas period that extra documents may be vital when travelling.
Taking a flight in the very busy, festive period can be a stressful thing to navigate, but family law and divorce lawyers at Rayden Solicitors are cautioning parents separated from their partners that there could be complications at the border.
Taking a child out of England and Wales without documents stating the other parent’s consent could result in being turned away from your flight. The lawyers add this will particularly be the case if those travelling now have a different surname from their child’s.
My colleague Amelia Neath reports:
How to navigate Christmas travel legalities as a divorced or separated parent
Airport security announcement from Simon Calder
Monday 23 December 2024 13:00 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderThe travel correspondent of The Independent was formerly a security officer at Gatwick airport. With millions still to fly over the festive season, Simon Calder gives some seasonal advice.
Allow for long security queues
For people hoping to breeze through airport security, Christmas and New Year comprise a perfect storm. Fellow passengers:
- May be infrequent travellers and understandably unfamiliar with the rituals and rules on sharp objects and liquids
- Are carrying fragile and/or non-compliant gifts, eg bottles or snow globes as gifts, slowing things down further
- Tend to have coats, hats and scarves because it’s cold outside, adding to the quantity to be scanned
Wrap presents after security
Checkpoint staff may need to take a look at unfamiliar items. It will not be a great start to your festive journey if you have to stand and watch someone tear apart all your careful wrapping to examine the gift.
Leave Christmas crackers out
Some airports and airlines let them fly as cabin baggage, and some do not.
Liquid warnings
While the hope was that all UK airports would have new scanners that allow liquids to be taken through security in larger quantities by the end of 2024, in fact the rules everywhere have reverted to the 100ml limit for containers of liquids, aerosols and gels. They must be inside a clear, resealable 1 litre container.
If you plan to buy a bottle as a gift, wait until duty free; if you have connecting flights, buy at the last airport before your destination.
One celebratory drink is enough
Sorry to nag, but please don’t drink too much before or during your flight. Signs at Gatwick and other airports warn: “It is an offence for you to get on and be on an aircraft when drunk.”
Jet2 says it “will not permit any person to enter or be in an aircraft when suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent that the safety of the aircraft or its occupants are likely to be endangered”.
Other airlines have similar policies.
Map: When and where to expect the worst traffic jams this Christmas
Monday 23 December 2024 12:30 , Tara Cobham
When and where to expect the worst traffic jams this Christmas
Aviation investigators fly to Belfast
Monday 23 December 2024 12:00 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderA team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has travelled to Belfast City airport in Northern Ireland to assess the incident in which an Aer Lingus Regional plane landed heavily and its nosewheel collapsed. No passengers were on board the ATR 72 aircraft inbound from Edinburgh, and the crew were unharmed.
The runway was closed for the rest of Sunday on one of the busiest days of the winter for aviation. Dozens of flights were diverted or cancelled.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said in a statement: “An investigation has begun into an accident involving a fixed-wing aircraft which occurred at Belfast City Airport on 22 December 2024.
“AAIB inspectors have commenced the on-site investigation to gather evidence and make enquiries.”
Western Isles ferries: Christmas Eve disruption
Monday 23 December 2024 11:30 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderScotland’s main ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne, has revised schedules for Christmas Eve.
The link between Oban and the island of Barra has been rescheduled, with the morning sailing from the island brought forward by three hours to 4am. After crossing to Oban, the vessel will spend only 15 minutes in port before sailing back to Barra four hours ahead of schedule. As a result of rescheduling, one sailing from Oban to the island of Mull is cancelled on Christmas Eve morning.
Calmac is also warning on passengers on the Mallaig-Armadale link to southern Skye: “Due to forecast adverse weather, all sailings are liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice.”
On Monday, the link between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay on the isle of Bute is also under threat. The ferry line says: “Due to a forecast of poor visibility later this afternoon, this service is liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice.”
A round-up of the disruption facing the UK’s major airports
Monday 23 December 2024 11:01 , Travel correspondent Simon Calder- Heathrow: Running smoothly after Sunday's weather-related cancellations – more than 100 flights were grounded, affecting 15,000 passengers. Inbound on Monday morning, British Airways from Johannesburg is six hours late due to a delayed departure from South Africa.
- Gatwick: Unlike Heathrow, there is no curfew at the Sussex airport – which was very busy overnight on Sunday into Monday, with many flights delayed by an hour or so. Worst delay was Tui from Barbados, arriving three hours behind schedule.
- Manchester: A similar picture to Gatwick: flights operating but delays overnight. Manchester was the starting point for the first passenger plane to land at Belfast City airport after the Northern Ireland airport reopened on Monday morning following the runway closure.
- Stansted: Unlike Sunday morning, the express rail link from London is running normally. Passengers on Ryanair from Tirana were expecting to arrive shortly after midnight, but instead landed three hours late. One notable arrival scheduled for Monday afternoon: a Titan Airways jet decorated as Santa’s Lapland, returning from Ivalo in Arctic Finland.
- Luton: Some disruption on Sunday evening, believed to be because of severe weather, saw an easyJet flight from Grenoble diverted to East Midlands. Other easyJet flights, including to Amsterdam and Glasgow, were about an hour late. On Monday morning, Ryanair has taken a couple of one-hour delays to Dublin and Knock in Ireland.
Watch: Christmas rail travel disrupted by station closures and strike action
Monday 23 December 2024 10:35 , Tara CobhamM1 reopens after van fire but drivers still warned of delays
Monday 23 December 2024 10:10 , Tara CobhamThe part of the M1 that was closed due to a vehicle fire has now reopened.
The motorway was shut northbound between J22, near Leicester, and J23, near Loughborough, after a vehicle blaze.
National Highways said on Monday morning that drivers are still facing delays there of around 10 minutes.
The #M1 is now OPEN northbound between J22 #Leicester and J23 #Loughborough following a vehicle fire.
— National Highways: East Midlands (@HighwaysEMIDS) December 23, 2024
Delays of approx. 10 mins remain.
Thank you for your patience. Have a safe onward journey. pic.twitter.com/KyqcEK5t7Y
Belfast City Airport reopens after landing emergency
Monday 23 December 2024 10:00 , Tara CobhamBelfast City Airport’s runway is “operating at normal” after it was forced to close following an emergency incident.
A plane’s nose wheel collapsed as it landed in the airport amid adverse weather conditions on Sunday afternoon.
There were four crew on board and no passengers when the hard landing occurred.
The incident triggered emergency procedures at Belfast City Airport and forced the runway to close for the rest of the day.
Several flights were redirected.
Emerald Airlines, which was operating the flight, said the incident was a result of adverse weather conditions that has been disrupting travel across the UK.
On Monday morning, Belfast City Airport said normal operations were resuming.
In a statement, it said: “The runway at Belfast City Airport has now reopened and normal operations will resume today.
“Passengers impacted by yesterday’s runway closure or those due to travel today should check the status of their flight with the airline before making their way to the airport.”
Part of M1 is closed as van is on fire with drivers facing huge delays
Monday 23 December 2024 09:18 , Tara CobhamPart of the M1 is closed because a van is on fire, with drivers facing huge delays.
National Highways said the M1 remains closed northbound between J22, near Leicester, and J23, near Loughborough, on Monday morning.
It added that emergency services including Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service continue to work at the scene where a van is on fire.
A diversion route is in place for motorists, although they are advised to allow for extra journey time amid delays, or even to postpone travel.
Pictures show long queues building up on that section of the motorway.
The #M1 remains CLOSED northbound between J22 #Leicester and J23 #Loughborough due to a vehicle fire.@LeicsFireRescue continue to work at scene.
— National Highways: East Midlands (@HighwaysEMIDS) December 23, 2024
For more info: https://t.co/c6IhCAcPDX pic.twitter.com/MysSFWtvdD
Met Office’s ice warning remains in place
Monday 23 December 2024 08:58 , Tara CobhamThe Met Office has issued an ice warning for parts of the UK.
The yellow weather alert is in place across areas in northeast Scotland until 10am today.
⚠️ Yellow weather warning issued ⚠️
— Met Office (@metoffice) December 22, 2024
Ice across parts of northeast Scotland
Sunday 2100 - 1000
Latest info 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfS950
Stay #WeatherAware⚠️ pic.twitter.com/D29xmdFzP6
UK could see a ‘grey Christmas’ rather than a white one, forecasts Met Office
Monday 23 December 2024 08:29 , Tara CobhamLooking ahead to next week, conditions are expected to improve and the UK could see a “grey Christmas”, rather than a white one.
Met Office meteorologist Dan Stroud said: “We’re expecting to see some sunny spells further east and a lot of cloud from the west.
“Temperatures should rise considerably and it will be extremely mild over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
“In England and Wales, temperatures will be well above average with some grey in the mix.
“We’re expecting an average of around 12C or 13C on Christmas Eve and 11C or 12C on Christmas Day. The usual average for this time of year is 7C or 8C so we’ll be around double where we usually are.
“Overnight temperatures in Scotland for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be extremely mild.”
Conditions expected to improve after bad weather disrupts Christmas travel
Monday 23 December 2024 08:00 , Tara CobhamConditions are expected to improve this week after bad weather caused disruption during the Christmas getaway period.
The Met Office has forecast a “grey Christmas” with some sunny spells and “extremely mild” temperatures.
It comes after a “perfect storm” of adverse weather conditions and road congestion led to widespread disruption during the Christmas getaway.
Dozens of flights delayed or cancelled after Belfast City runway blocked by stricken plane
Monday 23 December 2024 07:25 , Travel correspondent Simon CalderGeorge Best Belfast City airport has reopened after the runway was blocked by a stricken plane – but widespread disruption continues through Monday morning.
The drama began shortly after 4pm on Sunday afternoon when an Aer Lingus Regional ATR72 aircraft flew in from Edinburgh on a “positioning” flight to Belfast City. Four crew but no passengers were on board.
After a 40-minute flight the propellor plane made what the airline called a “hard landing” because of bad weather. The nose wheel collapsed, leaving the aircraft resting on its nose. No one was hurt, but the runway was blocked. Four incoming flights were diverted to Belfast International and two to Dublin, and dozens were cancelled.
The airport says: “Following an incident on 22 December, the runway at Belfast City Airport has reopened and is operating as normal.”
The runway is certainly open, with the first passenger flight from Manchester touching down at 7.15am, but operations are far from normal.
A British Airways flight that was due out at 5.25pm on Sunday but which was diverted to Dublin is now expected to leave at 9am.
The early departure on KLM to Amsterdam is cancelled because the aircraft could not reach Belfast City.
Many flights are delayed by several hours. The Emerald Airlines fleet of 10 aircraft has been reduced by one, while the aircraft is assessed and repaired, which will cause more cancellations.
Christmas travel: Worst times for driving during ‘record festive getaway’ revealed by RAC
Monday 23 December 2024 06:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarDrivers have been warned which major routes to avoid this Christmas season as experts predict a record number of festive trips will be made.
Around 29.3 million Christmas journeys will take place between Wednesday and 24 December, the RAC has estimated, with nearly half taking place on the pre-Christmas weekend alone.
Surveying over 2,000 drivers, the motoring group has urged festive commuters when to avoid major routes over the coming days. On Friday, it’s best to stay off the roads for the five hours between 2pm and 7pm on Friday 20 December, with nearly three million trips planned across the day.
This jumps to a massive 3.72 million on Saturday, when drivers are urged to avoid the five hours between 1pm and 6pm and set off well before this “gridlock” period if they can.
Christmas travel: Worst times for driving during ‘record getaway’ revealed
An acceptable level of travel cancellations? Discuss
Monday 23 December 2024 06:00 , Holly EvansChristmas getaway under threat by 80mph winds as Met Office warns of travel disruption
Monday 23 December 2024 05:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarPeople joining the Christmas getaway this weekend are being warned of heavy rain and winds of up to 80mph that are likely to cause travel disruption.
Millions of journeys are expected to be made across the country by car, in what the RAC breakdown service said could be a “pretty exhausting experience” for travellers due to the “wet and windy” conditions.
And it did not start well for many on Friday with hold-ups on many of the country’s main routes. They included motorists on the M5 who were stuck in 90-minute queues after hay bales on the back of a lorry caught fire near Exeter.
The incident closed two of four southbound lanes between J30 for Exeter and J31 for Shillingford Abbot and came at the same time there were queues caused by a crash on the M4 near Bristol and congestion around Dartford Bridge on the M25.
Read more here:
Christmas getaway under threat by 80mph winds amid warning of travel disruption
Met Office reveals whether white Christmas is coming to UK in forecast
Monday 23 December 2024 05:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarBritons hoping for a white Christmas are set to be sorely disappointed with a mild and grey 25 December, forecasters have predicted.
For the Met Office to declare a white Christmas, a single snowflake has to be observed falling in the 24 hours of Christmas Day anywhere in the UK.
However, the day is likely to be settled, cloudy and dry with light winds for most of the UK, according to the forecaster.
There is a small chance of rain across north-west Scotland, though temperatures are expected to be widely mild, dashing any hopes of snow.
Read more here:
Met Office reveals whether festive forecast will fulfil dreams of a white Christmas
Plane crash lands in high winds at UK airport as poor weather disrupts Christmas travel
Monday 23 December 2024 04:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarA plane crash-landed in high winds at a Belfast airport as poor weather disrupted travel across the UK in the run-up to Christmas.
Belfast City Airport was forced to enact emergency procedures on Sunday after a plane’s nose wheel collapsed upon landing in adverse weather conditions. There were no reported injuries.
There were four crew and no passengers on board the Emerald Airlines flight when the hard landing occurred at around 4pm on Sunday afternoon, as winds of up to 82mph battered parts of the UK.
The incident caused the runway to be closed for the rest of the day, after what the airport said had been the busiest day of the year so far on Friday, and several flights were diverted to Belfast International Airport on Sunday evening.
It came as weather warnings were in force across the UK, save for eastern parts of England, causing ferries, trains and flights to be cancelled in a blow to passengers travelling to spend Christmas with their loved ones.
Read more here:
Plane crash lands in high winds at UK airport as weather disrupts Christmas travel
Travel disruption: Why are the trains always chaotic at Christmas?
Monday 23 December 2024 04:00 , Maroosha MuzaffarTravel chaos is expected across the UK as the Christmas getaway gets underway.
It comes as weather warnings kick in for parts of the UK, roads and public transport could be disrupted by strong winds as the Met Office forecast a wet and windy weekend for many.
But one predictable issue that always arises during the festive season, is train delays, changes and a full shut down of the entire rail network on Christmas day.
This is because it is the one day of the year that engineering works take place, giving Network Rail and train companies an opportunity to carry out the largest heavy duty jobs when many across the UK are spending the day with loved ones.
Simon Calder explains:
Conditions expected to improve after bad weather disrupts Christmas travel
Monday 23 December 2024 03:30 , Maroosha MuzaffarConditions are expected to improve this week after bad weather caused disruption during the Christmas getaway period.
The Met Office has forecast a “grey Christmas” with some sunny spells and “extremely mild” temperatures.
It comes after a “perfect storm” of adverse weather conditions and road congestion led to widespread disruption during the Christmas getaway.
The Met Office issued yellow warnings for wind which remained in place until 9pm on Sunday.
The warnings were in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in England the warnings covered the North East, North West, South West and West Midlands as well as Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Hampshire.
Read more:
Conditions expected to improve after bad weather disrupts Christmas travel
Alternative routes to get people home for Christmas after Holyhead port closure
Monday 23 December 2024 03:10 , Maroosha MuzaffarPeople have been ferried to Ireland on alternative routes after the temporary closure of Holyhead port in an effort to get people home for Christmas, a Welsh Cabinet Secretary has said.
The busy ferry port in Anglesey, North Wales, was forced to close following damage during Storm Darragh and is not set to reopen until January 15 at the earliest.
All ferry services between Dublin and Holyhead are currently cancelled, upending travel plans for thousands in the festive season.
But alternative sailings to Ireland have been taking place this weekend amid high winds and challenging conditions.
Gusts of up to 75mph were forecast for parts of the UK on Sunday, with wind warnings in force across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and large swathes of England.
Read more here:
Alternative routes to get people home for Christmas after Holyhead port closure
