Snowfall, cold snap delays air and sea travel in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

Istanbul Atatürk International Airport’s meteorological emergency committee has announced that scheduled flights would decline by 15 percent on Jan. 27 due to snowfall and cold weather conditions, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Officials have urged passengers to follow recent updates with the airline companies.

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines has announced that a total of 852 flights would depart from and arrive at Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports, while cancelling hundreds of flights due to the harsh weather conditions.

Turkish Airlines General Manager Bilal Ekşi announced that they set crisis desks against possible negations due to heavy snowfall saying that passengers, whose flights were canceled, can change their tickets in one year free of charge. 

The General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMİ) at Atatürk Airport on Jan. 25 stepped up preparations against the new wave of snowfall and cold weather. Officials from DHMİ said they would assign 46 vehicles and at least 270 personnel to prevent possible problems on aprons and runways. 

Istanbul’s Fast Ferry and Sea Bus Company (IDO) announced the cancelation of all its services on Jan. 27, while Bursa’s BUDO also said trips to and from Istanbul have also been cancelled.

A new wave of snowfall and cold weather coming from the Balkans is currently covering Turkey, affecting Istanbul the most, according to officials from the General Directorate of Meteorology.    

Heavy snowfall started early Jan. 26 and is expected to affect Ankara and Istanbul, officials have said, adding that the snow could reach a depth of 10 to 15 centimeters.  

Officials also said that countrywide temperatures would drop by around 8 to 10 degrees Celsius.