UK weather latest: Severe conditions ground planes across Europe, with warnings of many more cancellations

BA is offering short-haul passengers booked up to Friday the chance to reschedule

Passengers across Europe face chaos as flight schedules are shredded by Siberian weather.

Eurocontrol in Brussels is warning of delays at airports across Europe. The air traffic management organisation predicts “moderate to high delays” at Heathrow from 1.30pm.

British Airways has cancelled 68 short-haul flights, mainly to and from Heathrow, in a bid to protect its overall schedule. Passengers were told on Sunday evening and rebooked on alternative departures.

BA said: “We are sorry that the weather this week is likely to lead to some delays and disruption to our schedules.

"It is likely at times we will have to proactively cancel some services and re-book customers on to alternative flights.”

The airline aims to protect its long-haul schedule. Passengers on short-haul and domestic flights to or from Heathrow or Gatwick up to Friday 2 March are able to reschedule for travel up to 21 March.

British Airways added: “Please keep checking the very latest information about your flight before travelling to the airport as the situation could change at short notice.”

An overnight snowfall in Rome has severely affected flights to and from the city’s Fiumicino and Ciampino airports. No flights operated at the latter airport, used by budget airlines, until 11am local time.

Ryanair cancelled almost 50 flights to and from the Italian capital, including two round trips to Stansted and one to Manchester.

Services on easyJet from Gatwick and Luton to Rome Fiumicino are operating with delays of one to two hours.

Alitalia, whose hub is at Fiumicino, has experienced many delays and cancellations. It is offering passengers booked up to 2 March to rebook on alternative flights.

Stockholm’s Arlanda airport is also badly affected by snow. Most UK services are being heavily delayed, but dozens of other European flights have been cancelled.

Lanzarote’s airport is also affected by strong winds, with many flights cancelled or severely delayed. Ryanair flights to Belfast, East Midlands and Liverpool are expected to operate around 10 hours late.

Passengers whose flights are cancelled or heavily delayed by bad weather are not entitled to cash compensation, but the airline has a duty of care to provide meals and, if necessary, overnight accommodation to stranded travellers.