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Original poster

Are flights normally cancelled if there's snow?

35 replies

H2025 · 04/01/2025 08:26

Going on a MUCH needed holiday on Monday but I'm in NW England where snow is expected. Should I expect my flights to be cancelled 😢😥

OP posts:
notimagain · 04/01/2025 08:53

For info snow is one of those weather phenomenon aviators don’t around with, not simply because of snow and ice on taxiways etc, but because of the effects snow/ice can have on aircraft performance.

It can take 15-20 minutes maybe more to clean off and then treat a large aircraft with anti-icing fluid, so if it’s actively snowing the rate of aircraft movement slows right down.

JudgeJ · 04/01/2025 08:49

AirborneElephant · 04/01/2025 08:35

No, not normally. They can clear the runway and de-ice planes. May be some delays though, good luck!

I recall sitting on a plane in a massive snow storm at Minneapolis as they de-iced the wings, it felt like we were in a huge car wash!

MrsMoastyToasty · 04/01/2025 08:45

DH's cousin had a flight from Glasgow to Bristol cancelled once because of snow at Bristol. We had only had an inch, which made it impossible for the snow ploughs to clear as it wasn't deep enough for the scooper on the front.

ReturnoftheBink · 04/01/2025 08:39

We’ve had flights cancelled for snow in UK because they usually cannot get as many flights taking off and landing, so can be luck of the draw

ueberlin2030 · 04/01/2025 08:39

Potentially, yes.

notimagain · 04/01/2025 08:38

At the moment I would not expect a Monday AM flight to be cancelled but it all depends on how quickly the bad weather due (?) overnight into tomorrow clears through, and how much snow gets dumped…

If there is any disruption Sat >Sun AM the airlines and airports are going to want to get operations back to normal ASAP, certainly by Mon AM.

Edit to add: If snow is actively falling you are going to get delays, unfortunately sometimes you can get situations (even in places used to snow such as the US eastern seaboard) when the rate of snowfall beats the ability of the deicing teams to clear paved surfaces and aircraft…then everything has to stop.

Looking at the forecasts as they stand I think there will delays and there almost certainly will be some cancellations at some UK airports tonight/tomorrow.

PurpleFlower1983 · 04/01/2025 08:38

I’ve flown out of Heathrow and Manchester in snow, you may have delays but hopefully they won’t be cancelled unless it’s really bad.

Lifestooshort71 · 04/01/2025 08:38

Sometimes there is a delay as flights might be late arriving from other snowbound destinations.....

CharlotteStreetW1 · 04/01/2025 08:36

I've flown from Gatwick in snow.

Also some countries have snow all winter. I'm sure they'll be prepared with snow clearing equipment etc.

Have a lovely holiday. Hope it's somewhere warm 🌞

AirborneElephant · 04/01/2025 08:35

No, not normally. They can clear the runway and de-ice planes. May be some delays though, good luck!

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