Why Were Manchester Airport Flights Cancelled and Delayed on January 2?

Several flights departing from Manchester Airport (MAN) on January 2 faced cancellations and significant delayed flights.

The primary cause for the disruption was wintry conditions at a key European hub. Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) Airport, a major destination from MAN, experienced severe weather. This led to reduced operational capacity in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam Schiphol Winter Weather Impact

Amsterdam Schiphol winter weather was the direct cause for grounding several services. The airport issued a warning to passengers about possible MAN flight disruptions.

Three services to the Dutch capital were officially cancelled. These KLM easyJet cancellations impacted hundreds of passengers at the start of the New Year travel disruption.

10:55 am: easyJet flight U22163 to Amsterdam (Cancelled)
11:00 am: KLM flight KL1032 to Amsterdam (Cancelled)
1:40 pm: KLM flight KL1034 to Amsterdam (Cancelled)
2:15 pm: Aer Lingus flight EI45 to New York (Cancelled)

Operational and Regulatory Context

Winter conditions pose significant challenges for European air travel. Snow, ice, and strong winds require strict safety measures. These include aircraft de-icing operations and runway clearing. Such procedures reduce the overall flow of air traffic. This can create bottlenecks across the network.

Under air passenger rights EU261 rules, severe weather is an "extraordinary circumstance". This means airlines are typically exempt from paying financial compensation. However, airlines must still offer assistance to affected passengers. This includes meals, accommodation, and re-routing. They must offer a full refund or re-routing on the next available flight. This is required even if it is on a competing carrier.

Widespread Delayed Flights January 2

The knock-on effect of the cancellations and general winter travel chaos led to extensive delays at Manchester Airport. As of 9:45 am, several Manchester Airport departures were delayed by over 25 minutes. Passengers are advised to check their flight status directly with their airline.

9:50 am Aer Lingus flight EI205 to Dublin, estimated departure 10:50 am
9:55 am Jet2 flight LS1721 to Funchal, estimated departure 10:45 am
10:10 am Loganair flight LM693 to Newquay, estimated departure 11:00 am
10:15 am British Airways flight BA1361 to London, estimated departure 11:25 am
10:40 am TUI flight BY156 to Punta Cana, estimated departure 6:56 pm
11:15 am IndiGo flight 6E34 to Delhi, estimated departure 12:55 pm
11:25 pm TAP Express flight TP1311 to Lisbon, estimated departure 12:15 pm
1:30 pm Egyptair flight MS782 to Cairo, estimated departure 2:30 pm
1:45 pm Saudia flight SV124 to Jeddah, estimated departure 2:45 pm

For more updates on commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights.

Note: All flight times and status updates are according to flightradar24.com as of 9:45 am on January 2.