Airlines warn Irish passengers of possible hurricane disruption

AIRLINES operating from Ireland to the east coast of America are warning that Hurricane Irene may disrupt operations over the next few days.

Aer Lingus said it planned to operate its full transatlantic schedule but would be monitoring the situation closely.

The airline warned that its operations in New York and Boston may be disrupted today, tomorrow and on Monday due to the hurricane.

“As Hurricane Irene continues to move across the Caribbean towards the east coast of the United States, it may disrupt our operations in New York and Boston to some degree on Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” it warned customers yesterday.

It is urging customers to check the latest status of their flight before leaving for the airport.

Aer Lingus said passengers booked to travel over the weekend and Monday can rebook at no additional charge.

Major American airlines flying to and from Ireland include Delta, Continental, US Airways and American Airlines.

US airlines have been encouraging travellers to consider changing their flight plans due to the projected path of the massive storm. Most have waived fees for re-booking tickets.

A spokesman for Dublin Airport Authority said passengers should contact the airlines before coming to the airport to make sure their flight has not been postponed or cancelled.

It is expected that the airlines will continue to monitor the weather situation and adjust their flying schedules depending on how the storm hits the east coast of America.

Flight cancellations and delays in the east are also expected to affect flights across the country and cause widespread delays.

In the US, it is expected that hundreds of thousands of airline passengers will be grounded this weekend as the hurricane sweeps up the east coast.

JetBlue Airways said it was cancelling about 880 flights, most of them to and from hub airports in New York, which has issued its first hurricane warning since 1985, and Boston.

American Airlines cancelled 32 flights, mostly in North Carolina and Virginia, and expected to halt flights in and out of Washington-area airports — about 150 flights a day — from around noon.

Irene is expected to make landfall around North Carolina, move up the coast to New York tomorrow and then weaken as it plods through New England.

It could strike major airports from Washington to Boston.