Thousands have been left stranded at Heathrow Airport as swathes of countries including Ireland closed their borders to the UK amid concerns over the new coronavirus strain.
While there more chaos at London St Pancras as people scrambled to leave the capital before the Eurostar cancels trains between London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
Scores of over bookings meant multiple flights were being hastily arranged at the last minute for restless travellers desperate to get home for Christmas.
Among those saw around 300 people shepherded onto a re-arranged flight to Dublin at 10.30pm after they were told they couldn't board an 8.55pm Aer Lingus flight to the Irish capital.
An extra flight from Heathrow was being arranged in the late hours of Sunday night with the flight scheduled for 10:30pm to help the hundreds get home before the introduction of the travel ban
From midnight, all flights due to arrive into Ireland from the UK are banned for at least 48 hours, with only freight and essential service staff permitted on ferries. It will be decided on Tuesday if the ban will be extended further.
Photos and videos showed large queues in Terminal 5 at the airport after passengers were unable to board a scheduled Aer Lingus flight to Dublin just before 9pm.
Speaking about the travel ban coming into place today, in a statement, Dublin Airport said: "In response to the identification of a new strain of COVID-19 in the south-east of England, the Irish Government has announced a ban on all flights arriving into the State from Britain with effect from midnight tonight, Sunday, December 20, 2020.
"Flights are being banned for at least 48 hours.
"The ban is in place for tomorrow, Monday, December 21, and Tuesday December 22, 2020. The ban will be reviewed by the Irish Government at its Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, December 22, 2020.
"A Government statement said that arrangements are being put in place to facilitate the repatriation of Irish residents on short trips to Britain and planning to return in the coming days, as well as international travellers to Ireland who are transiting through Britain.
"Passengers affected by this ban should contact their airline."
Meanwhile an Aer Lingus spokesman said: "Following the announcement by the Irish Government that flights from the UK to the Republic of Ireland are banned for the next 48 hours commencing midnight 20th December 2020, Aer Lingus will not operate flights from the UK to the Republic of Ireland in that period.
Heathrow airport in London echoed the warnings telling passengers not to turn up without a flight, while others questioned why so many were travelling so close to Christmas considering the required 10-day isolation period.
"All passengers are advised to check their flight status and travel advice before travelling to the airport," it said.
"If you do not have a ticket or you are destined for a country with an active UK ban in place, you will not be able to check-in and therefore should contact your airline."
European nations, including Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium, as well Columbia and El Salvador, have all banned flights from Britain over the "out of control" mutated strain.
