Scores of domestic, international flights canceled amid snow storm in Istanbul

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

CİHAN photo

Scores of domestic and international flights have been canceled by Turkish airline companies amid heavy snow in Istanbul, which began falling late Jan. 17.

Turkish Airlines, the country’s national flag-carrier, announced it canceled some 151 scheduled flights due to “expected meteorological incidents and heavy snowfall” in Istanbul’s Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports. 

Low-cost carrier Pegasus so far canceled some 65 flights, while Atlasglobal and Onurair canceled 13 and four flights, respectively. 

Istanbul’s fast ferry and inter-city sea bus trips (IDO), as well as Bursa Sea Bus trips, were also canceled on Jan. 19.

The snow is expected to continue falling until the night of Jan. 19, according to Turkey’s General Directorate of Meteorology.

Meanwhile, meteorology officials also said they expected heavy snowfall to start again in Istanbul on Jan. 22 and continue sporadically through the weekend.