Iceland Warns That Extreme Weather Conditions Can Affect Flights on Saturday and Sunday
In a statement released on Friday, Isavia has also advised travellers to check flight times at the websites of the airlines they have booked a flight with, or the Keflavik Airport in order to be prepared, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
“Flights to and from Keflavik Airport and regional airports in Iceland might be affected by extreme weather conditions from the morning of Saturday, December 31, till Sunday, January 1, 2023. Passengers are advised to check for flight times at the Keflavik Airport website, the airlines’ websites, and road conditions and weather at the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration website and the Icelandic Met Office’s website,” the statement reads.
According to the Iceland Meteorological Office, snow showers are expected in most of Iceland, with intermittent considerable or heavy snow along the south coast. In Reykjavik, the temperatures are expected to go as low as -13 degrees in some parts.
Isavia’s warning comes just a week after several flights had been cancelled at the Keflavik Airport, leaving hundreds of travellers stranded. Several flights to Tenerife, Las Palmas and Boston had been delayed in the meantime, leaving passengers waiting for the weather to clear.
AtoZSerwisPlus.com had reported that a total of 52 flights out of 70 scheduled to arrive on December 19 at the Keflavik Airport had been cancelled, as well as 63 departing flights.
“Due to the severe weather circumstances in Iceland, we are unfortunately forced to cancel our morning flights from and to Keflavik on December 20,” Icelandair had announced amongst other airlines.
The same had also noted that since Reykjanesbraut, the road which connects Keflavik airport to Reykjavik, was closed, many passengers would not be able to go to a hotel. However, if the road opened and passengers were forced to stay overnight, they would be compensated up to €150 per room.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised British citizens travelling to Iceland, and those in Iceland over the situation, advising them to pay attention to announcements by airport staff.
“They are doing everything they can to move passengers on to hotel accommodation in the area as conditions allow. Please listen to announcements from airport staff,” the advice read.
Keflavík Airport is the largest airport in Iceland and its main hub for international air transportation. In October alone, the airport recorded 230,529 departures, 227,661 arrivals, and 141,670 transfers/transits.
