Snow forces Heathrow to cancel half its flights

(Reporting by Rhys Jones; Editing by Will Waterman)

LONDON (Reuters) - Heathrow Airport has cut around half of the 1,300 flights scheduled for Sunday after snow and freezing temperatures hit much of England on Saturday.

"Heathrow is open. Our runways, taxiways and stands have been cleared of snow. Our snow plan has worked far better than in previous years, and the airport is getting back to normal.

However, there will still be disruption for passengers, as indicated Saturday,"

 Heathrow owner BAA said in a statement. Around 10 centimetres of snow fell over Britain in 24 hours.

BAA was criticised in December 2010 after heavy snowfall led to the virtual shutdown of Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

"British Airways has complied with the request (to introduce a reduced flight schedule) and continues to work with BAA to help keep the airport running as smoothly as possible. We are combining some of our schedule to ensure our customers can continue to fly to their destination as planned on alternate services," said flag carrier British Airways, which runs the largest fleet in Britain.

London's Gatwick airport said it planned to operate as normal but warned passengers of possible disruptions.
BAA said that based on current weather forecasts, there was no need to make wholesale changes to Heathrow's flight schedule Monday.

"There may still be some cancellations as a result of disruption with aircraft and crew needing to be repositioned," BAA said.

"There is no further snowfall forecast Sunday, but there is a forecast of freezing fog from 1800 GMT."

Most important travel trends of 2012

By Travel + Leisure

Which of these scenarios is most likely to happen to you in 2012?

1. At the hotel breakfast buffet, you find congee and stir-fried noodles along with the usual bacon and eggs.
2. You book a cruise for the first time ever.
3. You crowd-source your vacation.

If you guessed all of the above, you’re on to something. With the way the travel industry is trending, chances are that you’ll encounter all these situations.


Here is a closer look at a few of the trends that are transforming the travel landscape in the year ahead:

The Net The Internet’s influence on travel will cut both ways. Turned off by unreliable reviews on TripAdvisor and its ilk, more people will be mining their social networks for travel tips. It will also be easier than ever to log in as we travel with fewer — but more powerful — gadgets. Yet unplugging, too, is becoming an increasingly attractive option amid the overwhelming glut of information found online.
“We’re finding more and more a feeling of ‘e-morse,’” said Thomas Stanley, the chief operating officer at luxury travel outfitter Cox & Kings. “It can be difficult to sift through content to find authentic suggestions and advice.” That’s good news for Stanley as travelers flock back to old-school travel agencies and other one-stop shops to tailor their vacations.

Want to get away from e-mail, gadgets and more? Travel + Leisure's Nilou Motamed spotlights six destinations that specialize in treating travelers to peace and quiet.

Streamlined security The TSA is introducing streamlined screening for selected frequent fliers — which means a lucky few will be able to keep their shoes, belts and jackets on while going through security checks.
In general, the promise of shorter lines might persuade passengers to choose convenience over cash. “More of our leisure clients who normally fly coach on international flights are flying business to ensure access to quicker check-in, security clearances and boarding,” said Mary Ann Ramsey, the president of Betty Mclean Travel and a T+L A-list super agent.

Hotel makeoversYour hotel will get a face-lift.
Though hotel construction is booming in China and the Middle East (which will direct $7 billion toward hospitality projects in 2012), it’s slowed significantly in the United States. But that’s not to say U.S. hotels are being neglected. Across the country, older properties are undergoing capital improvements, with spruced-up lobbies, refurbished guest rooms and improved technology, according to Bjorn Hanson of New York University’s Tisch Center for Hospitality.
Hilton will invest $2.65 billion in its 135 U.S. properties in the next two years. Sheraton’s $300 million in upgrades will cover 60 hotels. Also being refurbished in 2012: icons such as the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Algonquin Hotel, in New York City.

Dan Saelinger

Hotels

Your hotel will get a face-lift.

Though hotel construction is booming in China and the Middle East (which will direct $7 billion toward hospitality projects in 2012), it’s slowed significantly in the United States. But that’s not to say U.S. hotels are being neglected. Across the country, older properties are undergoing capital improvements, with spruced-up lobbies, refurbished guest rooms, and improved technology, according to Bjorn Hanson of New York University’s Tisch Center for Hospitality.

Hilton will invest $2.65 billion in its 135 U.S. properties in the next two years. Sheraton’s $300 million in upgrades will cover 60 hotels. Also being refurbished in 2012: icons such as the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Algonquin Hotel, in New York City.

Cruising

You’ll consider a cruise—even if you’re not a “cruiser.”
From custom-made beds to bigger cabins, cruise lines are courting a new set of travelers by making their staterooms sexier—and more comfortable—with every new build. “Cruise companies are realizing there’s a generation of people who’ve never taken a cruise,” says Carolyn Spencer Brown, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic. “They’re hoping that by making their cabins as luxurious as possible, they can lure customers from the chic hotels they normally frequent.” That means spacious, open-air balconies on river-cruise company Uniworld’s Antoinette, daybeds and glass-enclosed solariums on Seabourn’s Odyssey, Sojourn, and Quest, and leather headboards and waterfall showers on Norwegian’s forthcoming Breakaway.
T+L Tip: If you’ve never been on a cruise, try wetting your feet with a river cruise, which will generally involve smaller ships and ports. Viking River Cruises is adding 10 more ships to its fleet by 2014, each with generously sized cabins that have floor-to-ceiling windows as well as private verandas.

Tourism

More Chinese travelers will be on the road, and you’ll find hotels adjusting to their needs.
In the 1950’s, Americans transformed the travel landscape in Europe when they began vacationing there in large numbers. The next wave of globe-trotters? China’s thriving middle class, and this time the impact will be global. With 100 million Chinese travelers expected to go abroad by 2015, hotels are rushing to tailor services for this burgeoning market. The payoff is huge: Chinese visitors to the U.S. last year spent on average $6,200 per person versus $3,000 by U.K. citizens. “The Chinese traveler is our economic stimulus,” says Robert Bobo, spokesman for the U.S. Travel Association, which is leading a campaign to streamline visa procedures for Chinese visitors. Hilton, Starwood, and Millennium have launched programs worldwide to hire more Mandarin speakers, train staff in Chinese etiquette, and provide culturally specific creature comforts: you tiao (fried crullers) and congee for breakfast, and Chinese TV channels in the rooms.
By the Numbers: 1,200 hotels are being built in China over the next two years—more than any other country worldwide