A London Gatwick spokesperson said: ‘Temporary air traffic restrictions have been put in place due to fog causing poor visibility.

‘Some flights may be delayed throughout the day. London Gatwick apologises for any inconvenience. Passengers should contact their airline for further information.’

Passengers were stuck on a Eurostar train in the Channel Tunnel for two-and-a-half hours after an apparent breakdown of the London to Paris service. They are finally expected to arrive in the French capital six hours behind schedule.

On one of the busiest travel days of the festive season, the first train of the day from London St Pancras International departed on time at 6.01am. It was due to arrive at Paris Gare du Nord at 9.20am local time. But it broke down in the Channel Tunnel.

Gaby Koppel, a television producer, told The Independent: “We stopped in the tunnel about an hour into the journey, so roughly 7am UK time.

“There were occasional loudspeaker announcements saying they did not know what the fault was. Eventually they said at 9am that we would get going ‘in 20 minutes’ but we are still here.”

The train eventually started moving at 9.30am. Passengers have been taken to Calais Fréthun station to await a replacement train. They are expected to be at least four-and-a-half hours late arriving in Paris.

As the evening goes on, an increasing number of flights are being cancelled from Gatwick, Manchester and Heathrow.

After a day full of severe delays, there could be more delats as flying curfews come into effect later on in the evening.

Across the UK, passengers are facing travel delays by air and by land – as many are hit by train delays.

After Christmas, millions of people are on the move around Britain. But anyone planning to travel by train during the remaining five days 2024 faces possible disruption due to a combination of rail engineering work and strikes.

Even though most stations and routes have reopened after two days of closure, the UK’s two busiest stations – Liverpool Street and Paddington in London – remain shut, with disarray elsewhere.

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A number of flights have now been cancelled from Gatwick after major delays throughout the day due to fog.

Passengers trying to leave the airport have vented their frustration on social media, as they describe “huge queues” and “no communication” telling them how to exit the airport.

One wrote on X: “@British_Airways an absolute disgrace tonight at @Gatwick_Airport Cancelled flight, then left passengers stranded in departures with no way to leave airport and collect luggage. No communication, nobody on the counters. Complete shambles.”

Passengers delayed at Manchester Airport have shared their frustration as they await to see if their flights will be cancelled.

One traveller said they faced a two hour delay but could not get into an airline lounge to wait in comfort as it was full.

National Highways, which runs the UK’s motorways and busiest A-roads, said the misty weather is not having a significant impact on its network.

However, it reminded motorists to use dipped headlights, wipers and demisters while driving in foggy conditions.

John Mitchell, 47, is desperate to get back to Aberdeen after finding out his father passed away on Friday morning.

Mr Mitchell, who had been in London visiting friends, booked a last-minute EasyJet flight from Gatwick Airport on Friday which has now been delayed for more than three hours due to the foggy weather conditions.

Mr Mitchell says he is “absolutely devastated” and hopes his flight which has been delayed till 10.53pm actually flies on Friday.

“I was actually supposed to be in London till Sunday, but I’ve had a family bereavement. My dad passed away this morning,” Mr Mitchell told the PA news agency.

“The flight I booked is for 7.35pm but is now estimated to leave at 10.53pm – nearly three-and-a-half hours late. I’m worried because Aberdeen airport has got restrictions for late flights.

“I’m a mess down here, because, obviously, once I get home – if I get home to Aberdeen tonight – my car is actually at the airport, which is fine.

“I’m going to have to go and see my family, and I’m not going to get to them at 11.30am tomorrow morning.

“I’m absolutely devastated. I don’t know what to do.”

Live departure boards are now showing that around half a dozen flights set to leave Manchester Airport on Friday evening have now been cancelled.

It comes after almost every flight set to depart from the airport today had been delayed due to fog.

Passengers travelling from Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport have also been hit by delays today.

A number of British Airways flights were cancelled, while hundreds more flights due to depart from the airport today were delayed – some by several hours.