Hot Summer Storms Cause Flight Chaos in London
In late June, severe storms caused massive flight delays at London airports. Experts warn that climate change will make these storms more common and unstable in the future. While some risk consultants worry that all London airports could close simultaneously and cause dangerous fuel shortages, other aviation experts believe the industry can handle these emergencies safely.
In late June, a very hot heatwave hit northern Europe. On a busy Saturday, thousands of people went to London airports. They wanted to fly abroad for their summer holidays. However, huge storm clouds gathered over the south of England.
This bad weather created terrible chaos for many travellers. Air traffic controllers tried to guide the planes around the storms. Soon, the airspace became very crowded and planes waited on the ground. In the end, controllers delayed nine hundred flights at Heathrow and Gatwick. Some passengers waited for eleven hours, and airlines cancelled dozens of flights.
Now, the weather is cooler, but experts are worried about the future. They believe climate change will make weather systems more unstable. Therefore, flights will face more problems, and costs will rise.
Tim Atkinson is a former pilot and a risk consultant. He thinks London airports are in danger from these storms. In the future, storms might affect all London airports together. If this happens, planes will not have a safe place to land.
Planes always carry extra fuel for thirty minutes of extra flying. But if many airports close, planes must find other places. They will look far away. They might run out of fuel.
However, not everyone agrees with this scary idea. Andrew Charlton is an aviation consultant in Switzerland. He thinks the risk of this bad situation is very low. He believes the aviation industry will always make good decisions during storms.
At the control centre in Hampshire, workers still watch the radar screens. They monitor the dark clouds and prepare for difficult hours.
Take a position. Out loud, if you can.
Four ways to start. Pick one and try saying it before you scroll on.
Tip · Record yourself, use in a notebook, or practice with a language partner.
When did the hot heatwave hit northern Europe?
Past Simple for Completed Actions
We use the past simple to talk about actions that started and finished in the past.
“In late June, a very hot heatwave hit northern Europe.”
What to know · A2
Try saying this aloud
Scenario: You are explaining to a travel agent why you are worried about summer flights.
- 01“They might run out of fuel.”
- 02“If this happens, planes will not have a safe place to land.”
- 03“I think the risk of this bad situation is very low.”
Register tip · informal
🔑Key Phrases
Expresses the desire to travel to another country by plane.
Many families wanted to fly abroad for their holidays.
To use up all the fuel so that none is left.
If the flight is too long, the plane might run out of fuel.
Article Audio — Kokoro TTS
Hot Summer Storms Cause Flight Chaos in London
💬Discussion Questions
Open-ended questions to talk or write about — alone, with a partner, or in class.
- 1
How do storms affect travel plans in your city?
Compare - 2
What should airlines do to help passengers during long delays?
Opinion - 3
Do you think climate change will make flying more expensive?
Predict - 4
Have you ever experienced a flight delay? What happened?
Personal - 5
Is it important for planes to carry a lot of extra fuel?
Evaluate - 6
Would you prefer to travel by train instead of a plane during summer?
Compare - 7
How do you think air traffic controllers feel during big storms?
Opinion - 8
What is the best way to spend eleven hours waiting at an airport?
Personal
News sourced from: BBC Science →. LectoPress rewrites the facts as original graded-reader text for language learners.
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