Turkish Airlines cancels 529 flights due to snowfall

ISTANBUL

REUTERS photo

Turkish Airlines (THY) announced on Jan. 3 it had canceled a total of 529 flights due to heavy snowfall in Istanbul over the previous three days.

The carrier said it transferred some 9,700 passengers to hotels and offered food for some 28,900 passengers.

Hundreds of flights were canceled over three days of heavy snowfall in Istanbul, particularly at the city’s main Atatürk Airport, where some passengers had to sleep on the airport’s floors and benches. 

Meanwhile, the cost of the snowfall is expected to be announced in the upcoming days.

In addition to Istanbul, heavy snowfall to usher in 2016 paralyzed life across Turkey, as ferries were canceled, schools were closed and snow-covered roads inhibited access to thousands of villages.