Mega US storm causes turbulence in global air travel
BERLIN: International air travel from Europe and Asia was hit
Monday by flight cancellations as much of the United States'
eastern region battened down for the threatened impact of Hurricane
Sandy.
Even before the hurricane crashed ashore the US after barrelling
across parts of the Caribbean with fatal consequences, it had
already whipped up a maelstrom of disruption on land and in the
air.
After thousands of flights were axed from eastern US hubs and bus
and train services suspended, safety fears over the monster storm
also caused disruption as far afield as Hong Kong and
France.
Air France cancelled all flights to Washington and New York, a
company spokeswoman said, adding the airline was "closely
monitoring the situation" of what is being dubbed
"Frankenstorm".
In Britain, holiday-makers bound for the US for this week's school
holidays were left stranded after British Airways and Virgin
Atlantic were among the airlines to scrap all connections the US
east coast, including New York and Washington.
"We understand that customers may be disappointed. However their
safety is our highest priority," British Airways, which cancelled
around 20 return flights, said in a statement.
Elsewhere in Europe, cancellations also hit Amsterdam's Schiphol
airport as well as Rome-Fiumicino, Frankfurt Airport, which is
Germany's busiest hub, and Geneva and Zurich airports in
Switzerland.
However Zurich airport seemed to have been spared "mass passenger
layovers" as some cancellations had been announced the day before,
press officer Jasmin Bodmer told AFP adding it was unclear if the
disruption would go into Tuesday.
The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation,
Eurocontrol, said 300 of the usual around 500 flights between
Europe and the US had been cancelled with more expected later
Monday.
In Asia, Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific announced it was
scrapping a total of eight direct flights between the southern
Chinese city and New York on Monday and Tuesday.
"We are responding to the recommendation of the airport authority
of the John F. Kennedy International Airport in cancelling our
flights and it is possible that we may face further disruption,"
the airline said.
Air India said it had scrubbed both of its daily flights to the
US.
"We are waiting for the US authorities to issue alerts once the
weather changes and it is safe to fly," K. Swaminathan, Air India's
corporate communications manager told AFP.
Flights from Japan were not immune either.
The flight information centre of Tokyo's Narita airport said one
Japan Airlines flight to New York and one All Nippon Airways flight
each to New York and Washington had been
cancelled.
In the US, more than 7,400 flights out of east coast hubs were
grounded while Amtrak suspended all bus and train services up and
down the coast.
Subway services, buses and commuter trains were also shut down in
New York, Philadelphia and Washington.
