Nearly 11,000 travelers became stranded in Jeju Island due to severe weather and numerous flight cancellations. The expected smooth trip had turned into a longer stay than anticipated.
In terms of the weather, the weather had already determined the outcome of the trip. Jeju Island experienced heavy snowfalls and severe winds that forced an airport closure until late morning.
Passenger safety was the priority of airport management. Unfortunately, this priority caused thousands of passengers to experience delays in travel.
Out of 461 total flights scheduled, there were at least 163 cancellations with many additional flights being diverted as well. Many flights that were scheduled to fly to Gimpo, Gimhae, Gwangju, Gunsan, and Yeosu were significantly delayed due to weather issues causing many passengers to be stuck extended periods and not to be able to board their scheduled flights.
Airlines were also trying to respond to the deteriorating weather situation with many airlines suspending inbound flight boarding on or after noon due to the expectation that weather conditions would continue to worsen throughout the day.
The reopening of the airport will not automatically return to pre-storm flight schedules. Snowstorms typically cause multiple delayed aircraft, crew repositioning issues to return aircraft to their home bases, and once again the ongoing weather issues will continue to affect operations long after the actual snowstorm has stopped.
Airport personnel used special vehicles to clear snow from the airport in order to make operations safe again. At the same time, the local government provided stranded passengers with emergency supplies.
Should things continue to worsen, passengers can rely on the thousands of blankets, mattresses and bottles of water that airport authorities and the local province have on hand. This is not luxury, but no one will be without the bare necessities.
Travel out of the airport wasn’t easy, either. Most ferries that connect Jeju to Wando and Jindo were cancelled due to a high wave warning. And if you are an avid hiker, you will be disappointed to learn that all seven trails within Hallasan National Park are closed for your safety.
Jeju is one of the most beautiful islands in South Korea, with its volcanic landscape, beautiful shoreline and calming atmosphere. But when nature does what it wants, even the most beautiful places can become a logistical nightmare in a matter of hours.
So, the moral of the story is: no matter how beautiful a destination is, nature can trap you when it wants to. For thousands of people stuck in Jeju right now, patience is their journey, not travel.
