Turkish Airlines announced the cancellation of 54 flights scheduled for Jan. 12 at Istanbul Airport due to anticipated adverse weather conditions affecting the city.
The cancellations follow a decision by the Meteorological Emergency Committee (MADKOM) to impose restrictions on flight operations as Istanbul prepares for severe weather expected Monday.
The committee's directive affects both departures and arrivals at Istanbul Airport, one of Europe's busiest aviation hubs.
Istanbul's second major airport will also face operational constraints. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport's Ground Authority HEAS announced it will reduce flight capacity by 10 percent throughout the day tomorrow, based on recent assessments from the General Directorate of Meteorology.
The capacity reduction will affect flights operating throughout the entire day at Sabiha Gokcen, which serves as a key alternative to Istanbul Airport for both domestic and international routes.
The dual airport restrictions comes as a coordinated response to meteorological forecasts indicating conditions unsafe for normal aviation operations. MADKOM, which convenes to assess weather-related risks to air travel, determined that limiting flight operations was necessary to ensure passenger and crew safety.
Turkish Airlines, the country's flag carrier and one of the world's largest airlines by passenger destinations, operates its primary hub at Istanbul Airport.
The cancellation of 54 flights is a significant disruption to the airline's schedule. Passengers with bookings on January 12 flights are advised to check their flight status directly with their airlines and monitor updates as weather conditions develop.