Air Malta's afternoon flight to Heathrow was yesterday diverted to Gatwick as bad weather caused delays and cancellations at one of the world's busiest airports.

An airline spokesman said that, due to the congestion at Heathrow, Air Malta was given a new slot for the afternoon flight that was scheduled to leave the island just before 5 p.m. However, the new slot was too late and would have left the plane, crew and any passengers returning on the flight from Heathrow stranded at the London airport overnight. Arrangements were therefore made to operate the flight to Gatwick instead. This left 90 minutes behind schedule.

The spokesman said arrangements were also made to transport passengers from Heathrow to Gatwick. Steps were taken so that passengers having a connection flight at Heathrow would be taken there and provide for an alternative flight if they missed their original one.

Heathrow's two runways had to be closed for 20 minutes each in order to be de-iced after heavy snowfall in parts of Britain. The British media reported that air traffic control reduced the number of take-off and landing slots.

Air Malta's morning flight to London landed 24 minutes late and the flight back arrived an hour behind schedule. The airline's afternoon flight from Gatwick was also delayed by 40-odd minutes and that from Manchester arrived 15 minutes late.