More than 200 Istanbul flights canceled due to snow

ISTANBUL

Aircrafts are parked at the tarmac at Ataturk International airport in Istanbul, Turkey December 31, 2015. REUTERS photo

More than 200 flights have been canceled by Turkish airline companies amid expectations of snowfall in Istanbul. 

In a statement on Turkish Airlines' website, the national flag carrier said that 175 domestic and international flights would be canceled from Istanbul's Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports on Jan. 22 and 35 flights would be canceled on Jan. 23 due to potential heavy snowfalls.        

Pegasus Airlines announced that it has canceled 37 domestic and international flights for Jan.22.        

Atlas Jet also said in a statement that it has canceled eight flights, while Onur Air announced that it canceled four flights on Jan. 22.

The flight cancelations came as snow started in Istanbul early Jan. 22.

The Turkish State Meteorological Service said intense snowfall would be in effect for Istanbul, issuing a warning late Jan. 21.

“The snow depth will vary from five to 25 cm, depending on the elevation of the area. Snowfall might sometimes turn into snowstorms,” it said.

The meteorological service also asked people preparing to go on vacation with their personal cars to heed traffic warnings and abide by the speed limit.

It also said snowfall would continue until Jan. 24.