A BBC report says climate change is making certain weather events more frequent and harder to manage for aviation. Thunderstorms, flooding, clear-air turbulence and rising sea levels are identified as growing risks, with busy airports in London and northern Europe considered particularly exposed.

Late in June, storms congested airspace around Heathrow and Gatwick, delaying about 900 flights and causing dozens of cancellations.

Tim Atkinson, an airline risk consultant and former pilot, warns there is a risk that storms could affect all of London’s airports at once, creating serious disruption and potentially dangerous fuel shortages.

Former airline executive Andrew Charlton says the overall risk is low, but notes that airlines may need to carry more fuel if diversions become more common, which would add to passenger costs.

The article notes that Heathrow and Gatwick have adjusted their landing-spacing systems to help reduce delays in high winds. Gatwick has spent tens of millions of pounds on flood mitigation and expects to invest more than £2 billion in expansion.

Newcastle University research cited by the BBC states that 269 airports are already at risk of flooding from rising sea levels, with total protection costs possibly rising to $57 billion.

The BBC also highlights that clear-air turbulence is on the rise, with Professor Paul Williams of the University of Reading noting that severe turbulence on many busy routes could double, triple or worsen.