Flights from Manchester Airport to Amsterdam have been cancelled on Wednesday (July 5) morning as a storm batters the Netherlands. A code red alert has been declared in three Dutch provinces by the national meteorological institute as Storm Poly brought heavy rain and strong winds, with one gust reaching over 90mph.
Trains have been halted in the northern Netherlands while Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest airports, has cancelled or delayed hundreds of flights. The airport said on its website that it expected “very limited air traffic will be possible” into the afternoon, leading to cancellations and delays for incoming and departing flights.
Both KLM and EasyJet flights from Manchester Airport have been cancelled this morning with the next flight scheduled to depart for Amsterdam at 1.45pm on Wednesday. Passengers should check with their airline for the latest flight information.
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In a statement on its website EasyJet apologised for the cancelled flights. It said: “This is due to an adverse weather forecast in Amsterdam which forecasts high winds and low visibility on 5th July. As a consequence, Schiphol airport authorities have imposed arrival restrictions which significantly reduces the number of flights that can operate to and from Schiphol airport on 5th July.
“We understand that this will be disappointing news and we want to make it as easy as possible for you to make new plans, so here’s everything you need to know about what to do next. The disruption to your flight is outside of our control and is considered to be an extraordinary circumstance.”
It advises travellers that they can either switch to another flight for free, select a voucher for the full value of their ticket or request a refund.
The storm is expected to blow across the Netherlands later on Wednesday and into Denmark and Germany. There’s been no immediate reports of casualties in the Netherlands, although Dutch media showed pictures of uprooted trees and “and at least one toppled truck in Amsterdam, The Hague and the city of Haarlem as the storm barrelled through during the normally busy morning rush hour.
Emergency services in North Holland province, which includes the capital Amsterdam, sent a push alert to mobile phones urging people to stay indoors as the storm passed. Traffic authorities also advised motorists to avoid driving, if possible.
Manchester Airport has been contacted for more information.
