Turkish alone has cancelled over 150 flights today; Pegasus, SunExpress and AJet operating at Istanbul's second airport are also likely to cancel further flights

Due to heavy snowfall that has affected the city since the morning, air traffic in Istanbul has been severely affected. According to Turkish government sources and press offices of carriers, more than 150 Turkish Airlines flights scheduled for today have been cancelled at Istanbul Airport, representing about 15% of the daily total, as the air company operates an average of about 1,000 flights per day. The weather situation, which predicts heavy rainfall for the next four days, has prompted the authorities of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to extend the cancellation measures at least until February 21. In addition, flights of other Turkish companies, such as Pegasus, SunExpress and AJet, operating from "Sabiha Gökçen", Istanbul's second airport, located on the Anatolian side of the city along the Bosphorus, are at risk of further cancellations.

According to Istanbul's Akom emergency agency, the snowpack could reach 40 centimeters in some areas of the city, further aggravating the operational difficulties of airports. The persistent bad weather is in fact causing disruptions not only to air transport, but also to land transport, confirming the concerns expressed by international sources such as Eurocontrol.

Turkish meteorological services reports show that the low pressure system currently affecting the region will continue to bring heavy rainfall, forcing airlines to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of passengers and staff.

Turkish Airlines has posted on "X" these hours: "Dear passengers, due to the weather conditions expected in Istanbul on February 19-20-21-22, 2025, some flights to and from Istanbul Airport have been cancelled. In this regard, additional rights have been granted to both affected and unaffected passengers. You can check the latest updates on your flight status via our page, and find detailed information on ticket changes and refund requests".

Istanbul's main airport issued a similar warning: "Due to the adverse weather conditions expected in Istanbul, we advise passengers to check flight information with their respective airlines before arriving at the airport, and to prioritize the use of public transportation to reach the airport until Sunday".