Mist Plagues Eindhoven Airport; Flights Delayed and Diverted
Eindhoven Airport is once again grappling with mist on Saturday morning, causing delays to several scheduled flights. As of 7:45 AM local time, the airport had not reported any visible fog, but many flights scheduled for the morning have been affected. The situation of some flights remains uncertain.
"We’re dependent on the information we receive from airlines," a spokesperson for Eindhoven Airport explained. "As soon as they provide us with details about aircraft landing or diverting here, we process that on our boards. In the meantime, passengers may arrive at the airport and have to wait. Alongside security, we ensure that travelers are divided between the sections before and after security to prevent further congestion."
The spokesperson could not estimate how long it would take for the mist to clear, noting that it’s a "coffee table" issue and they prefer not to make predictions.
Flights experienced additional waiting times ranging from 30 minutes to four and a half hours. According to the airport’s website, which has been updated throughout the morning, "We’re experiencing delays due to mist. This can result in delays and/or cancellations." The site also provides real-time updates on flight arrivals and departures, indicating that several flights scheduled for around midday have been delayed.
On Friday evening, multiple aircraft were unable to land in Eindhoven, and some flights had to be diverted to other airports. Initially, it seemed the mist would not cause significant disruptions on Saturday morning, as six aircraft took off between 7:00 AM and 7:45 AM with minimal delays. However, the mist began causing issues again shortly after 8:00 AM, leading to delays and the diversion of a flight from Alicante (SPA) to Cologne (CGN) in Germany.
Passengers whose final destination is Eindhoven can contact their respective airlines for information about potential damages. Eindhoven Airport is prone to such issues more often than other airports due to its less advanced systems compared to Schiphol. However, the airport is set to receive new equipment around its runways by 2027, which will enable safe flying even in dense mist.
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