Thousands of local passengers affected by bad weather

A total of 16 Macau-bound flights have been diverted to airports in Shenzhen or Hong Kong, while around 12 flights ready to take off were called off or delayed over the weekend as the city’s visibility was greatly impacted by the inclement weather.
It was reported that more than 1,800 passengers were on board the diverted flights, and the cancellation or delay of those flights has left 2,800 passengers stranded at the airport, according to the Macau Daily News (also known as “OuMun”).
The authorities at the meteorological department told media that the combination of strong air currents from the south and a low cloud-base height was the main culprit for the flight delays, diversions and cancellations on Saturday. Chaos unfolded in the airport hall as distraught passengers scrambled to fix their flights at the only two counters available.
The incident has also caused massive crowding at the airport as some of the passengers were forced to spend the night there after failing to book hotel rooms. The Civil Aviation Authority backed the decision of the pilots of the affected flights to land at the neighboring cities’ airports, saying it was the “right move” to prioritize safety.
Among the 16 flights diverted, 13 returned to the city yesterday, with two delayed and another one cancelled yesterday, according to media reports. Staff reporter