Low cost air carriers Ryanair and EasyJet were among the airlines experiencing substantial inconvenience flying in and out of Rome due to security considerations ahead of the Friday funeral for Pope John Paul II.

Rome Ciampino, the closest airport to Rome and the airport that these low cost carriers, as well as come charter companies, operate out of was closed on Thursday as a security precaution due to the presence of hundreds of world leaders in Rome for the funeral.

Ryanair had to cancel 48 flights on Thursday, 46 on Friday, and all but four on Saturday. It was arranging replacement flights in and out of Pescara, 130 miles east of Rome.

EasyJet, which operates out of the UK, had cancelled all their Thursday and Friday flights and were attempting to replace them with flights in and out of Bologna.

Rome Fiumicino, the Rome airport which handles most of the major carriers, was not closed although 30 percent of its operating capacity was lost.

This meant that British Airways did not have to cancel any flights, although it was reporting 40 minute delays on its flights in and out of Rome.

Lufthansa cancelled two of 26 flights, but planned to run larger planes on some flights to make up the difference.