Disruption to Irish flights likely to continue

FLIGHTS CANCELLED:FLIGHT DISRUPTION caused by bad weather in northern Europe is likely to continue today as airlines try to clear the backlog caused by yesterday's heavy snowfalls.

Aer Lingus, which cancelled more than 40 flights yesterday, cancelled two flights this morning to London Heathrow because the aircraft were still in London.

Ryanair cancelled or delayed most of its flights to and from London Stansted because of weather conditions in the UK.

Although it was flights to the London airports of Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted that were the worst affected, bad weather also saw the cancellation of flights to other UK airports, along with Aer Lingus flights to Paris, Brussels and Milan.

There were further flight cancellations from Belfast and Cork.

Aer Lingus spokeswoman Gillian Culhane said the airline was offering stranded passengers a chance to rebook their flights at no additional charge via their website or by calling reservations. Alternatively, passengers could get a refund through the company’s website.

There were long queues at both the Aer Lingus and Ryanair travel desks yesterday as passengers sought to get information. Many had been there from early morning and were due to board connecting flights in London.

“It’s a complete disaster,” said Tony Dunne, who was due to pick up a connecting flight to Seattle in the US yesterday afternoon. “We arrived here this morning; there was no information, there was nobody to tell us that everything was cancelled. There are hundreds of people walking around.”

Brian Collins said Aer Lingus staff had been very helpful, but he doubted he would make his connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia at London Heathrow.

“I was here at 5.40am to get the 6.40am flight, but it was cancelled, so I queued up, but the second flight they put me on to was cancelled again, so I had to start back at the end of the queue again. What can you do?”

Dublin airport was not directly affected by yesterday’s snow storms, and flights that could depart or arrive did so without any difficulty. However, Met Éireann is reporting substantial snowfalls overnight and later today.

A spokesman said there would be prolonged outbreaks of sleet and snow in the Dublin area, with accumulations of about 10cm especially on higher ground. Although temperatures would be relatively mild at between minus one and plus one, it would feel much colder because of the wind-chill factor.

Dublin Airport Authority spokeswoman Siobhán Moore said the authority was confident of keeping the airport open despite the weather. “We have all the measures in place to keep it going. We have a snow and ice fleet, sweepers, snow-blowers and ramp-hogs to keep the snow away.”

Meanwhile, Dart services were suspended between Bray and Greystones, Co Wicklow, yesterday, after a rock fall close to the entrance to the first tunnel on Bray Head. The rock fall also affected Gorey commuter and Rosslare intercity services.

Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny said it could be a “number of days” before the route was reopened. He said bus services would replace trains on the route while repairs were being carried out.