The UK is in the grip of a freezing weather front that has caused significant cancellations and delays to Australia bound flights over the last weekend.    

Australia-bound passengers scheduled to travel on Qantas flights from London had to  deal with long delays after Heathrow airport was closed on Friday and Saturday due to heavy snow.

A Qantas spokesman said the freezing temperatures had forced road closures in neighbouring regions leading into the airport and caused long delays to departures from London at one of the busiest times of the year in the lead-up to Christmas.

'None of our departures from the 18th were able to depart,' a spokesman for the airline said.

Heathrow was still struggling to reopen yesterday on Monday December 20. Several flights already en route to London from Melbourne and Sydney were stopped at ports in Asia and passengers were accommodated in hotels overnight before continuing their journeys to Heathrow.

Heathrow reported that several flights had to be  redirected to other airports during Sunday and Monday amidst fresh falls of snow and plummeting temperatures.

In fact thousands of people have had their travel plans thrown into disarray right across Europe as snowstorms forced the closure of many airports.

Authorities have been working around the clock to assist passengers as the knock-on effect is felt worldwide.  Heathrow Airport said passengers
should expect further cancellations and delays as airlines look to resume
schedules when and if the weather clears.

As reported some diversions have taken place, with Gatwick and Manchester Airports both open despite some delays.  Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris also felt the brunt of the extreme weather conditions, with an estimated 40% of flights cancelled on Sunday.  Cancellations were also felt in Holland, Germany and Italy.

Airlines operating to Europe and the UK, including Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways, are trying to clear the backlog of stranded passengers.
Virgin Atlantic said it will be at least another 24 to 48 hours until its flying  schedule is back to normal .

None of the Qantas flights leaving Melbourne and Sydney to London on Sunday are  expected to be cancelled but passengers are advised to monitor the airline's website for updates. 

Editor's Comments: It's difficult to comprehend here in Port Douglas, as we sit in and around our swimming pools and bask in 35 degree sunshine that on the other side of the world, many of our 'rellies' are suffering temperatures of -20 degrees for Christmas.  From experience I can tell you its better being here whinging about it being too hot than it being too cold even if you're an English cricketer!