National: Flight cancellations and delays underway as Shannon Airport temporarily closes

SHANNON Airport has temporarily closed its doors this Monday morning due to heavy fog conditions coinciding with essential taxiway maintenance work.

This development has disrupted travel plans for passengers and caused potential delays for flights scheduled to arrive at, or depart from Shannon Airport.

Passengers who had plans to travel via Shannon Airport this Monday morning have been urged to check the status of their flights directly with their respective airlines before heading to the airport.

As of now, the list of cancelled flights includes services to London Heathrow, London Stansted, Edinburgh, and Liverpool, with disruptions occurring at different times.

A spokesperson for The Shannon Airport Group has confirmed: "The airport temporarily closed at 11pm on Sunday, October 8, and is expected to reopen this morning, Monday, October 9, as soon as the fog clears."

Passengers were alerted to the unexpected closure via the airport's social media.

ℹ️ Passenger Notice - 00.16 ℹ️

Due to unexpected heavy fog conditions during a period of essential taxiway maintenance work, Shannon Airport is temporarily closed.

As a result, flights in and out of Shannon Airport may be cancelled or delayed this morning, Monday 9th October. pic.twitter.com/zYPQuM5GZ7

— Shannon Airport (@ShannonAirport) October 8, 2023

One passenger on board a flight from Fuerteventura had their travel plans thrown into disarray as the flight was abruptly canceled and rerouted to Dublin Airport late last night. Expressing their perspective on the situation, the passenger commended Ryanair for their efforts to mitigate the inconvenience caused by the unexpected turn of events.

The passenger stated, "Despite frustration among some passengers due to the late-night delay, the Ryanair staff did their best to help us."

Elaborating on the impact of the disruption, the passenger added: "I had originally anticipated touching down in Shannon at 11pm, hoping to reach my home in Limerick city by 11:30pm. But in the end, it wasn't until 4:45am, that I finally walked through the door of my house."

Those with questions or concerns regarding their travel plans are encouraged to reach out to their airline's customer service for further assistance and information on booking options if necessary.