Just one flight for Heathrow leaving YVR

Air Canada has confirmed it will have three flights from Canada to Heathrow on Monday, including AC854 from Vancouver at the 6:15 p.m. PT.

Air Canada flight AC9100to Frankfurt Airport is also scheduled to depart one hour late on Monday afternoon. But British Airways flight BA85 from Vancouver toLondon at 8:30 pm has been cancelled.

Snow and ice have shutdown runways and stranded thousands of travellers at London's Heathrow airport and other major European airports in Paris, Frankfurt, Brussels, and Florence for days. Heathrow, which had only one functional runway on the weekend,stopped accepting arrivals Sunday at the start of the busy holiday travel season.

Thatleft some travellers stranded at the Vancouver Airport since Saturday, unable to get a flight. Heathrowwas open Monday, but airport officials there said theywould be limited arrivals and departures.

Early advisory issued

On Monday morning Air Canada issued a travel advisorysaying it would haveonly fiveflightsfrom Heathrow to Canada on Monday, including just one flight to Vancouver, and warned that other European flights would likely be affected as well.

"Air Canada advises that the continuing effects of severe winter conditions in England are strictly limiting its operations to and from London and passengers are urged to consult the company website www.aircanada.com for flight schedule updates before travelling or going to the airport."

"Winter weather is also affecting other European stations, notably Paris, where airport conditions are imposing lengthy delays or cancellations on carriers. Air Canada asks passengers to postpone non-essential travel and is waiving change and cancellation fees for those who wish to reschedule on affected routes."

Waiting since Saturday

Stephen Phillips was scheduled to fly from Vancouver to London on Saturday, but his flight was cancelled.

"We've been stuck about two days now, trying to make our way back to Heathrow and the U.K. but the snow back there is just holding everything up. We are trying to get on a standby at the moment,"

Phillips has cancer, and he says he missed his appointment to set up chemotherapy treatments. He is hoping he can fly out on Monday afternoon. If not, his next chance could be a flight booked for Christmas Day.