PHOTOS: Disruptions at Budapest Airport, two Ryanair planes seriously damaged, runway 2 inoperable
The late-night Friday thunderstorm caused damages and disruptions at Budapest’s international airport, Ferihegy. According to the airport’s press office, they suspended operation between 1.45 AM and 6 AM today because of the extreme weather since taking off and landing would not have been safe.
Due to the extraordinary closure in service, Wizz Air’s flights from Lisbon and Corfu, Air France’s flight from Paris and British Airways’ London-Budapest plane were redirected to Debrecen, Vienna and Belgrade. Meanwhile, early morning flights departed with delays from Budapest Airport, telex.hu wrote. Furthermore, additional delays are expected concerning several Ryanair flights because two jets were damaged during the night thunderstorm and hail.
Budapest Airport highlighted that the airgate has been operating safely since 6 AM. However, only runway 1 is operable because maintenance workers are now cleaning runway 2 from the debris and mud the storm threw there. Furthermore, they need to repair the beacons, but they hope they will finish all that work by noon.
Meanwhile, the terminals got soaked in many places. Budapest Airport staff are continuously repairing those, but the work does not hinder airport traffic. The company gives detailed information about the current situation on their website HERE.
According to a reader of Telex, the underpass leading to Budapest Airport from the city centre is also underwater. Therefore, you should calculate a longer travel time or choose an alternative route to Ferihegy.