London, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – Heathrow Airport operator BAA admitted on Monday that flight delays and cancellations that are hounding the country’s largest gateway could go beyond Christmas.

BAA estimated that two-thirds of flights going in and out of Heathrow would be cancelled until at least Wednesday morning because it could only keep one of its two runways open.

BAA Chief Executive Colin Matthews said the Heathrow operator is too slow to clear the snow that stranded aircraft at the gateway. BAA also cancelled all short-haul flights.

On Monday night, Gatwick Airport operators also said that its runways would continue to be closed until early Tuesday morning.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the government would have to work with airport operators and airlines how to avoid a repeat of the situation because the chaotic situation is not acceptable.

Hammond relaxed rules on night flights at Heathrow, but warned of more flight disruptions because of up to 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) of snow expected in Gatwick and 5 cm (2 inches) in Heathrow and forecasts of record-low temperatures of minus 26 degrees Celsius (-14.8 Fahrenheit) in London on Thursday.

It is not only air passengers, but also train travelers whose Christmas travel plans were disrupted because of cancellation of Eurostar services.

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