How windy can it get before it starts to impact commercial flights?

[wesragt]

Sorry stupid title. I've tried googling but getting confused between mph, knots, gusts and crosswinds!

I'm a regular but nervous flyer. My weather app says windy tomorrow for Gatwick, 18-22mph specifically with gusts up to 43mph. Does anyone know how that would impact flying? Is it mild? Could it delay flights? Could my flight end up in one of those YouTube videos my sons insist on showing me?!

It depends on the airport. Leeds Bradford is my nearest airport and it's unfortunately located on top of an exposed hill so it's windier than average. We've experienced a few 'interesting' landings. I think pilots need extra training to land there compared to airports in more sheltered locations.

And there's many a time when flights have to go around a few times or are delayed or even diverted and have to land at other airports.

But rest assured that multiple people will be watching the local conditions and you won't take off or land unless they consider it safe to do so. It could be that the flight has to 'go around' and see if the conditions change.

But according to Flightradar, it looks like the wind is currently impacting Dublin as that's where the most people are watching flights to and there's a few circling above, eg

https://www.flightradar24.com/RYR78RA/34a78321