One Runway, No Buffer: How 30 Minutes of Bad Weather Can Cripple an Airport for Hours

Gatwick schedules a takeoff or landing every 65 seconds—near its maximum capacity. When thunderstorms shut the airport for 30 minutes on June 24, 2026, about 27 flights vanished. Unlike airports with slack in their schedules, Gatwick cannot absorb the loss. The backlog rippled through the rest of the day. A single runway operating at its limit means even brief weather disruptions cascade into twelve-hour delays.