With Europe in the midst of an unprecedented heatwave and temperatures soaring across the continent and in the UK, travellers looking to escape the heat by flying abroad, are facing severe heat related issues. At Gatwick Airport in the UK the rising temperatures and lack of air conditioning reportedly had people “passing out” due to heat after being left to queue at their gate “without air conditioning.”
In the UK, experts are predicting the hottest day on record this week as temperatures are set to soar to 41 degrees Celsius. France has also extended a red heatwave alert to more than a dozen regions warning of “hazardous conditions of exceptional intensity.”
At least 360 people have died in Spain since 10 July and 659 in Portugal where temperatures soared to 46 degrees Celsius.
One traveller tweeted that it was “total chaos” at Gatwick Airport claiming temperatures had reached 26 degrees Celsius inside. Others said it was “boiling” inside the terminal with passengers feeling “unwell” due to the heat.
Twitter users said the group had been stuck in a stairwell for two hours. The airport has apologised for the delays and inconvenience caused to customers over the weekend saying staff shortages were to blame.
Adding to the chaos, passengers were left without full running water and only two functional toilets on 14 July when a water main burst near the airport.
During the extreme heat in France last week, passengers at Toulouse Blagnac Airport forced their way onto a flight to Marrakech.
Due to depart on Wednesday evening (13 July), they were reportedly left to wait in “stifling heat” without food or water until they learned their flight was cancelled, according to French newspaper La Dépêche.
The exhausted passengers invaded the aircraft and refused to leave. A witness to the event said the situation wasn’t resolved until around 7:30 am the next morning. A flight to Marrakech finally departed Toulouse at 11 am.
Travellers have also been left to queue in the heat today at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. Lines stretched outside of the terminal building with the wait to pass through security reportedly between two and three hours.
Staff have been handing out water and ice creams to those lining up in the hot weather. Fans and tents have also been erected outside to try and keep people cool in the queues.
Gatwick Airport’s website refers people to UK government advice on the red weather warning in place on 18 and 19 July.
Passengers travelling through the airport are being told to bring empty water bottles through security to fill up at water fountains in the departure lounge.
In response to the recent airport chaos, Heathrow is advising passengers to arrive no more than 3 hours before their flight. Travellers are also being reminded to check what they can and not bring in their hand luggage in order to keep queues at security moving.
Meanwhile flights were suspended at London’s Luton Airport as engineers repaired the runway “after high surface temperatures caused a small section to lift.” RAF Brize Norton, a major air force base northwest of London, also closed its runway because of the heat. The air force said “aircraft are using alternative airfields in line with a long established plan.”
For those looking to get to London’s airports via public transport, many rail services have been amended with Transport for London advising passengers only to travel if their journey is essential. Timetables are reduced with fewer services running during the heatwave – including the Gatwick Express.
With temperatures high in the Netherlands, Schiphol Airport has also shared some advice for passengers waiting in queues. Travellers are being told to bring enough water for themselves and their families, wear light clothing and apply sunscreen if they have to wait outside the terminal.
The airport is monitoring temperatures and attempting to stop lines from forming outside wherever possible.