Ireland: Ryanair, EasyJet ground planes as Ophelia hits

Airlines including Ryanair, Aer Lingus and British Airways are set to ground hundreds of flights and said more cancellations are likely as 150-km per hour winds from Storm Ophelia slammed into Ireland. Ryanair halted 92 flights from across Europe as of 12:25 p.m. Irish time, according to updates on its website. Dublin-based Aer Lingus and low-cost EasyJet canceled 50 services each while BA said stormy weather will cause disruptions in the UK, including a “small number” of cancellations at London Heathrow airport. Ireland is an important aviation market as the base for Ryanair, Europe’s biggest airline, and a refueling platform for some flights across the Atlantic. Irish authorities warned some of the worst storm conditions to hit the country in 50 years will endanger lives as the country’s Met Eireann weather service extended its most severe warning nationwide for the first time. Authorities are planning for significant flood damage and severe transport disruptions and are warning people to stay indoors. Cityjet dropped three flights and Lufthansa called off two, which it said affected 500 passengers. Flybe Group Plc said it has halted 47 flights primarily around Belfast City, Dublin, Knock and the Isle of Man. Norwegian Air Shuttle said routes from Dublin to Oslo and Copenhagen have been canceled.<br/>