London

Is London Gatwick Airport turbulent?

Gatwick faces the same fog challenges as Heathrow. December 2024 saw four consecutive days of fog disruption with flights delayed 1-3 hours. The single-runway airport has less capacity to recover from weather delays. When visibility drops, NATS air traffic control reduces flow rates for safety, cascading delays across the schedule.

• December 2024: four consecutive days of fog disruption
• Single runway limits recovery from delays
• NATS reduces traffic flow when visibility drops

Why is Gatwick vulnerable to fog?

The airport sits in the Surrey countryside where radiation fog forms on clear, calm nights. A slow-moving high-pressure system in late 2024 created stagnant conditions that allowed fog to persist for days. Visibility dropped to 100 meters in some areas. The single-runway configuration means any capacity reduction has immediate impact.

When is the best time to fly from Gatwick?

Late spring (May-June) and summer offer the most reliable conditions. Autumn and winter fog season (November-February) brings the highest delay risk. Morning fog typically lifts by midday, so afternoon departures may be more reliable during fog-prone periods.