Why Did Bergamo Airport Halt Flights, Stranding Thousands of Ryanair Passengers?

January 4, 2026 at 10:45 AM•2 min read

Ryanair passengers faced major delays after Italy's Bergamo Orio-al-Serio airport halted all flights due to technical issues with the landing guidance system.

Key Points

1A technical fault in the landing guidance system forced the halt at Bergamo Orio-al-Serio airport.
2The disruption, compounded by thick fog, began around 17:00 GMT on Saturday evening.
3The incident led to 26 canceled departures and 63 affected incoming flights, according to media reports.
4Thousands of passengers, primarily on Ryanair services, were stranded overnight at the Italian hub.

The Italian airport of Bergamo Orio-al-Serio experienced a major operational shutdown. Flights were halted on Saturday evening due to a critical technical fault. This issue involved the airport's landing guidance system. The failure was compounded by poor visibility conditions from thick fog. This Bergamo airport flight halt left thousands stranded overnight.

Operational Breakdown

The disruption began around 17:00 GMT on Saturday. Airport operator SACBO confirmed the technical failure. The fault affected the Instrument Landing System (ILS). This system is vital for guiding aircraft in low visibility. Without the ILS, safety protocols require suspending operations. This caused a significant Milan-Bergamo airport disruption.

Air traffic was effectively paralyzed for several hours. SACBO reported the technical problem was solved around midnight. However, the operational backlog caused delays into Sunday.

The Impact on Passengers and Airlines

This incident led to widespread Ryanair passenger delays. Bergamo is a key hub for the low-cost carrier Ryanair. Local media reported a total of 26 departing flights were canceled. Six incoming flights were diverted to other airports. State broadcaster RAI News indicated 63 incoming flights were affected.

Thousands stranded overnight inside the terminal. Images showed travelers sleeping on floors and baggage belts. Civil protection authorities provided camp beds for children and the elderly. The situation highlighted the vulnerability of large hubs to single-point technical failures.

Aviation Safety and ILS Systems

The landing guidance system is a critical piece of infrastructure. It provides both vertical and lateral guidance to pilots. This is essential for landing safely in poor visibility conditions. When the ILS fails, especially with heavy fog, flights cannot proceed. This is a mandatory safety measure under standard Italian air traffic control procedures.

Regulatory bodies like EASA set strict standards for ILS operation. A failure mandates immediate cessation of low-visibility approaches. The incident underscores the need for robust, redundant airport technology. Such events create significant logistical challenges for airlines and airports. They also raise questions about passenger rights and compensation.

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