Ryanair, British Airways ground planes as Ophelia hits Ireland

Bloomberg

Airlines including Ryanair Holdings Plc and IAG SA’s Aer Lingus and British Airways are set to ground hundreds of flights and said more cancellations are likely as 90-mile per hour winds from Storm Ophelia slammed into Ireland.
Ryanair halted 92 flights from across Europe as of 11:25 am Irish time, according to updates on its website. Dublin-based competitor Aer Lingus cancelled 50 services, while British Airways said stormy weather will affect operations across the UK and cause disruptions, 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 refuelling 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. The former hurricane has also been deemed a potential risk to life by the UK’s Met Office weather agency.
Air France-KLM Group’s Cityjet dropped three flights and Deutsche Lufthansa AG called off two, which it said affected 500 passengers. Flybe Group Plc said it has called off 47 flights primarily around Belfast City, Dublin, Knock and the Isle of Man.