Heathrow cancels flights to ‘ensure silence’ over London during Queen’s coffin procession: Passengers face delays between 1.50pm and 3.40pm today as airport honours Her Majesty
- Airport making ‘appropriate alterations…out of respect’ for the mourning period
- This includes flights being disrupted from 1.50pm until 3.40pm this afternoon
- This will ‘ensure silence’ over central London during ceremonial procession
- Full coverage: Click here to see all our coverage of the Queen’s passing
Heathrow Airport flights have been cancelled so they do not disturb the Queen’s coffin procession this afternoon.
The west London airport said in a statement that ‘out of respect’ for the mourning period it will be making ‘appropriate alterations to our operation’.
These include flights being disrupted between 1.50pm and 3.40pm today to ‘ensure silence over central London as the ceremonial procession moves from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall’.
Heathrow Airport flights have been cancelled so they do not disturb the Queen’s coffin procession this afternoon
British Airways has cancelled 16 short-haul flights due to the airspace restriction.
More flights are expected to be axed during the Queen’s funeral on Monday.
Heathrow said: ‘Passengers will be notified by their airlines directly of any changes to flights.
‘We anticipate further changes to the Heathrow operation on Monday September 19, when Her Majesty’s funeral is due to take place, and will communicate those in more detail over coming days.
‘We apologise for the disruption these changes cause, as we work to limit the impact on the upcoming events.’
The Civil Aviation Authority has also imposed a restriction on airspace over central London which bans aircraft – including drones – flying below 2,500ft between September 9-19.
As well as grinding to a halt for this afternoon’s ceremony, Britons will see a number of businesses and public services close for the funeral on Monday.
Bin collections, driving tests, hospital appointments, cinemas and major supermarkets are among the businesses and services which will be halted.
Meanwhile, Costa Coffee is one of the latest chains to announce its closure, following confirmation from supermarket giants Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Aldi, Morrisons, Iceland, Lidl, Poundland, and M&S that they will shut.
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