Flights resume at Europe’s busiest airport in Istanbul as snow eases

Snow has been completely removed from two of the airport’s three runways. Deutsche News Agency (dpa) reported that the company expects to resume operations at full capacity later on Wednesday.

No further flight cancellations are expected, but passengers are still advised to contact airlines before departure, the official added.

Turkish Airlines, the national flag carrier, also advised travelers at the smaller Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian side of the city to contact their flyers before departure.

Istanbul Airport – a major international hub – was temporarily closed on Monday due to a snow storm. Several occupants were stranded and had to spend the night in the building.

Some social media users have shared photos of travelers sleeping on the floor protesting to claim a hotel room. Local media, including the daily Suzcu, reported that hundreds of passengers were stranded and some slept on luggage belts.

The airport, which began operations in 2019, hosted 37 million passengers in 2021 to 269 destinations from the Middle East to the Americas.

Snowfall is expected to decrease in the city, which has a population of 16 million, but the Meteorological Authority warned of snow, frost and poor visibility, as well as heavy snowfall in the rest of Anatolia.

MI