The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is scheduled for today Monday 19 September 2022.To minimise noise and out of respect for HMTQ’s passing, Heathrow Airport has cancelled 200 flights, and is making a number of additional changes at the airport.
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All arrivals scheduled for today between 1:45 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. are affected, as well as all departures and corresponding inbound flights from 3.05 p.m. to 4.45 p.m. All departures from 4:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. are to be reduced according to CNN, resulting in a total of 200 disrupted flights out of the overall 12,000 flights planned for Monday as per The Independent.
The announcement was also made on Heathrow Airport’s Twitter account on Sep. 15.
Out of respect for Her Majesty The Queen, Heathrow, NATS and airlines, will make appropriate changes to their operations to avoid noise disruption for the State Funeral at Westminster Abbey and the Committal Service at Windsor Castle on Monday 19 September 2022. (1/3)
— Heathrow Airport (@HeathrowAirport) September 15, 2022
The UK’s busiest airport
Heathrow Airport is just 12 miles (around 20 kilometres) away from Windsor Castle, and numerous flights were instructed to divert around the area in a sign of respect to the funeral procession.
British Airways has cancelled over 100 short-haul flights scheduled for today, while Virgin Atlantic has cancelled four US flights to and from Heathrow Airport.
Local roads will be affected as well
About 15% of the 12,000 flights that are scheduled for today will be affected. Heathrow Airport has published a page to update passengers on their flights.
Additionally, the official announcement informs all visitors that several local roads leading to and from Heathrow Airport will be closed down to facilitate the procession of Her Majesty The Queen’s coffin to St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Monday 19 September.
The announcement strongly advises all passengers to avoid travelling to the airport with their cars or cabs but rather make use of public transport and thus avoid local road disruption.
There is going to be a broadcasting of Her Majesty’s funeral at the airport, and there will be two minutes of observing silence. There will be additional emotional support at the airport’s chapels and prayer rooms and all non-essential shops will be closed.
A statement from British Airways reads:
As a mark of respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her State Funeral, we have reduced our schedule and re-timed some flights at Heathrow to ensure the skies are quiet at certain moments on Monday September 19th.
Our thoughts remain with the Royal Family and the nation.
Sources used:
- Evening Standard:'Which Heathrow Airport flights have been cancelled for the Queen’s funeral?'
- Heathrow Airport: 'Passenger Updates'
- CNN: 'Flights canceled to turn skies silent for Queen's funeral'
- Independent: 'British Airways cancels 100 Heathrow flights on day of Queen’s funeral'
Read more:
⋙ The Queen wanted a not so ‘boring’ funeral, claims ex-archbishop
⋙ Queen Elizabeth II owned hundreds of animals, what will happen to them now?
⋙ The Queen’s funeral: The final stage of the Queen’s journey to Windsor revealed
