Montichiari Airport Avoids Snow Disruption; Flights Continue Smoothly

As on Christmas night, the Gabriele D’Annunzio Airport of Montichiari managed to escape unscathed from yesterday’s snowfall. Only one flight was canceled: the flight from Rome Fiumicino on Wednesday evening, which was rerouted to Orio al Serio.

Otherwise, the snow challenge was successfully overcome thanks to the snowplows operated by Faustini, the company contracted for this service. The equipment, working continuously throughout the night, allowed flights to proceed normally throughout the day.

Safety Interventions and Snow Management

“At Christmas, we were even better,” recounts Antonio Realdi, director of the Brescia airport. “No flights were rerouted, and by the morning, we were more efficient than Malpensa airport. Had any aircraft been diverted to us, we could have accommodated them comfortably.”

Snow plowing is no small operation, considering the area used by aircraft for landing and movement to the service station covers over 500,000 square meters. Cleaning this large apron, with the runways and connection taxiways, requires suitable vehicles and equipment.

The parking area, which can accommodate 650 cars, was also cleared, and the six snowplows remained at the edge of the runway to handle a new snowfall forecasted to potentially hit the Brescia region in the coming hours.

Closure and Scheduled Flights

“It was rumored that we would accept flights from Verona overnight, but that is not true,” continues Realdi. “Even the Verona airport, like us, remained closed overnight to allow runway cleaning.”

Therefore, regular daily flights by Air Dolomiti to Rome (three departures and three arrivals) and by Ryanair to London (two departures and two arrivals, with only one round-trip flight on Sunday) continued without interruption.

Ryanair Special Offer

Regarding Ryanair, the deadline to book online at special prices for the London – Stansted flight expired last night. From Montichiari to London, round trip, tickets are available for just 45,000 lire (plus 60,000 lire in taxes).

This offer is valid from January 19 to February 22, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The only condition is to book through the website (www.ryanair.com) between January 12 and 18, 2001.

Passenger Growth Prospects

“These days, Ryanair flights are three-quarters full,” explains Realdi. “We can therefore expect an increase in passengers in light of this extraordinary offer.”