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Oscar Liu

Fan Chen

Hong Kong travellers heading to and from Britain are bracing for potential disruptions because of bad weather in parts of the country, with scores of flights cancelled at London’s Heathrow airport.
Heathrow said that about 100 flights had been axed on Sunday, 80 of which were operated by British Airways, because of persistently strong winds.
The adverse weather has led to disruptions across the United Kingdom as millions of people travel ahead of Christmas.
Hongkonger Libby Ngai, 26, said she planned to arrive at Heathrow three hours early on Monday for her indirect China Eastern Airlines flight back home.
“It’s quite windy, but public transport, including buses and trains, continues to operate without disruption,” she said.
“But after learning about the flight cancellations at Heathrow, I have decided to head to the airport three hours ahead of schedule.”
At Hong Kong International Airport, Mark Yallop, 56, who was flying to Heathrow on Sunday evening with British Airways, said he expected the weather to be bad.
“I have had a long time not watching the weather because I know it is horrible anyway,” said Yallop, the director of an investment company in London.
Yallop was transferring from the Philippines to London via Hong Kong on flight BA32 scheduled to take off at 10.45pm.
“I’m more worried that there’s a delay here, but once I’m home I will be fine,” he said.
With a “keep calm and carry on” spirit, Shek Tin-chun, 80, was due to fly to Heathrow with his wife on BA32 on Sunday before taking a connecting flight to Glasgow, where they have lived for decades.
There was only one hour between the two flights.
“We will wait and see,” Shek said. “The airport will take care of us if our next flight gets cancelled.”

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways said flights between the city and London were operating as scheduled and it would continue to closely monitor the situation.
The Travel Industry Council, a federation of local travel trade associations, had not heard any of any tour groups in London being affected, executive director Fanny Yeung Shuk-fan said.
Severe weather warnings for wind were issued for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and northern and western England, according to the British Met Office.
It forecast winds ranging from 50 to 60mph on Sunday, with gusts potentially reaching up to 70mph in exposed coastal and hilly regions.
The weather also resulted in the cancellation of some ferry services, closures of roads for high-sided vehicles and disruptions to rail services. Motorist organisation the Automobile Association said it expected 21.3 million drivers to embark on journeys on Sunday.
The Royal Automobile Club warned motorists about driving conditions with a mix of strong winds along with heavy and wintry showers in some places.
Hong Kong Federation of Insurers chief executive Selina Lau Pui-ling stressed the importance for residents to check whether their travel insurance policies encompassed third-party deductibles for self-driving tours.
“On top of that, we always encourage travelling drivers to purchase comprehensive insurance from the car rental company for complete protection, especially since not all individuals are accustomed to driving in windy, snowy or icy conditions. This way, they can have extensive coverage,” Lau said.
“If this comprehensive insurance does not cover the full amount of compensation, the deductible from the travel insurance can come into play.”


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Strong wind is affecting parts of the UK. Photo: EPA-EFE

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News

Hong Kong

London’s Heathrow airport axed about 100 flights on Sunday because of persistently strong winds


London’s Heathrow airport axed about 100 flights on Sunday because of persistently strong winds.
