Storm Boelo Hit Heathrow Hardest, and Spain-Bound Flights Got Caught Up

Storm Boelo swept across the UK on Monday, October 26, with winds reported at up to 80 mph, and air travel took a direct hit. According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, more than 100 flights were cancelled at major UK hubs and hundreds more were delayed. London Heathrow was affected most, particularly its short-haul network, while Gatwick also saw disruption. The timing is awkward, because this is half-term week in England, one of the busiest periods of the autumn for families heading abroad.

Gatwick took the unusual step of telling passengers not to travel to the airport without first checking their flight status, citing hazardous winds. That is the practical advice for anyone flying from London this week: confirm your flight with the airline’s app or website before leaving home, because a cancellation notice can arrive well after you have set off. If your flight is cancelled, UK passenger rules generally give you a choice of a refund or rebooking, though airlines can dispute compensation when the cause is severe weather.

Spain-bound travelers had a second concern. The same report says outbound flights to Spanish holiday destinations were caught in the backlog, though it did not name specific cancelled routes. It also notes that ground staff at Spanish airports have been striking every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, in windows of 5 to 7 a.m., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight, which can slow boarding, baggage handling and queues at Palma, Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga and Alicante.

Storm-related knock-on effects often outlast the weather itself, since aircraft and crews end up in the wrong places. With another busy weekend of half-term departures ahead, the safest approach is to build in extra time, travel with essentials in a carry-on, and keep your airline’s contact details handy. Check the latest status before every leg of your trip rather than assuming an earlier confirmation still holds.

Sources: Majorca Daily Bulletin, Travel Tourister