Winter flights from Belfast cancelled due to intense snow

Heavy snow has led to freezing roads and cancelled flights in Northern Ireland, impeding the Christmas plans for thousands of travellers across the country.

The Belfast International Airport was earlier closed, while its runways were cleared from snow. Meanwhile many cars lined the roads to the airport as people waited for their loved ones.

Travellers were depressed as 10 flights were cancelled and with the rest mostly delayed. A Belfast flight to New York was late for nearly nine hours, while other scheduled flights faced delays of at least four hours. Air passengers, whose flights were grounded, were notified that they may not easily get a new flight schedule this festive season due to the high volume of demand.

Moreover, serious snowstorms in the US worsened the situation. The eastern coast was hit by one of worst blizzards in the US history, resulting in hundreds of flights from New York, Washington, Baltimore and Boston to be cancelled.

In other parts of Europe, snowstorms and freezing temperatures also grounded several air operations. Five flights were earlier cancelled in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Glasgow, Luton and Paris.

The US-based pop rock group, Seabird, was among the many disappointed travellers who were scheduled to depart for Amsterdam. The group’s latest released track, Joy to the World, was due to be played in the Dutch capital on Sunday night; however the flight turmoil pushed back the schedule.

Russell Howard, panellist of Mock the Week, also postponed his show at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena due to travelling difficulties from the snow-struck Manchester Airport.