Hundreds of flights have been canceled across Europe as a result of hurricane-force storm Eunice, which impacted several of the continent’s busiest airports on February 18, 2022.
On February 18, 2022, Storm Eunice made landfall in the United Kingdom and Ireland with strong winds.
The Met Office, the UK’s official weather office, issued a Red Warning, advising residents to stay inside if possible since the storm is predicted to deliver “damaging and disruptive winds for most of the UK.”
Strong winds, which might reach speeds of more than 90 miles per hour, could inflict significant damage to buildings, roofs, and electrical lines, according to the authorities.
⚠ #StormEunice is going to bring damaging and disruptive winds for most of the UK today.
🔴 See the latest Red Warnings for wind below and be aware of the wider Amber Warning area.
Exposed coastal areas could get gusts in excess of 90mph
Latest 👉 https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs pic.twitter.com/uQAeGfB3RK
— Met Office (@metoffice) February 18, 2022
Several European airlines have already been impacted by the storm. Due to safety concerns, a number of British airlines, including British Airways and EasyJet, have been forced to cancel or divert flights.
British Airways, the UK’s flag airline, was forced to cancel at least 80 flights to and from London airports, including 44 to and from Heathrow (LHR) and 36 to and from London City (LCY).
Meanwhile, EasyJet, a British low-cost carrier, has warned that its services from Gatwick (LGW) and Bristol will be severely disrupted (BRS).
We’re expecting extreme weather conditions as a result of Storm Eunice at airports across the UK. Find out more here: https://t.co/PZFhM4CSJF
— British Airways (@British_Airways) February 18, 2022
“Due to strong winds impacting parts of the UK today, like other airlines we are experiencing some disruption to our flying program and have been required to cancel a small number of flights to and from the UK,” a spokesperson of easyJet told The Sun.
Other European countries are being hit by the storm. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the Dutch flag carrier, announced the cancellation of nearly 170 flights scheduled for Friday.
“Due to stormy weather in Amsterdam on Thursday 17 February and Friday 18 February 2022, our flights to, from, or via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol may be disrupted,” the carrier said.
Eurocontrol, the European network manager, projected “severe disruption” for UK airports such as London Luton, London Heathrow, Stansted, and Manchester, with operations at Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Brussels also expected to be affected.
Some airports, notably Amsterdam, are refusing to accept diversions due to the risk of disruption.
