Pulkovo Airport in St Petersburg Resumes Operations After Heavy Snowfall
Airport Closure Due to Heavy Snowfall
Pulkovo Airport in Russia’s St Petersburg was closed for several hours on Sunday due to heavy snowfall, with all flights halted and plans to resume operations shortly. However, this was later postponed until weather conditions improved.
Runway Closure and Redirection of Flights
At around 0830 local time (0530 GMT), the airport announced the closure of its runway, with plans to resume operations shortly. However, this was later delayed due to adverse weather conditions. Artyom Korenyako, a spokesman for Rosaviatsia, reported that the airport had reopened for inbound and outbound flights as of 1325 local time.
Flights Redirection and Impact on Passengers
During the runway closure, 33 planes bound for St Petersburg were redirected to alternate airports, primarily in Moscow. This disruption caused inconvenience to passengers, with some stuck on planes for several hours. A video posted by the Mash Telegram channel showed a plane waiting for departure from St Petersburg, with passengers seated in the cabin and the outer panes of the windows heavily iced. It was unclear how long people had been waiting inside the aircraft.
Conclusion
The closure of Pulkovo Airport due to heavy snowfall highlights the challenges that airports face in ensuring safe and efficient operations. While the airport’s decision to close was necessary to ensure safety, it also caused disruptions to passengers and airlines. The redirection of flights to alternate airports was a necessary measure to minimize the impact of the closure.
FAQs
- When did Pulkovo Airport close due to heavy snowfall?
Pulkovo Airport closed at around 0830 local time (0530 GMT) on Sunday. - How many flights were redirected to alternate airports?
33 flights were redirected to alternate airports, primarily in Moscow. - When did the airport reopen?
The airport reopened for inbound and outbound flights as of 1325 local time. - What was the impact on passengers?
Some passengers were stuck on planes for several hours due to the runway closure and redirection of flights.