Severe winter weather has forced Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, one of Europe's key aviation hubs, to cancel more than 700 flights, with the number expected to rise. The airport confirmed that over a thousand stranded travellers spent Wednesday night within its terminals, where camp beds were provided and breakfast was offered.
Winter Havoc Across European Transport
The cancellations at Schiphol are part of a wider pattern of disruption caused by snow, ice, and freezing temperatures across the continent. In France, the cold snap has been described by the Météo France weather service as being of "rare intensity for the season." Authorities placed 38 departments on alert for heavy snow and treacherous black ice.
The severe conditions have proven deadly, with five fatalities confirmed from road accidents in France on Tuesday. Transport networks have been severely impacted, leading to significant flight cancellations at Paris's main airports as well.
Major Disruption in Paris and Beyond
In the French capital, the ripple effects of the freeze are being felt widely. The French transport minister stated that approximately 100 flights were axed at Charles de Gaulle airport on Wednesday morning, with a further 40 cancelled at Orly airport due to snowfall and fierce cold.
Public bus services across Paris and its suburbs were suspended because of icy roads, although most metro and suburban rail lines continued to operate. Officials had pre-emptively advised those in the Paris region to avoid non-essential travel and to work from home where possible.
Ongoing Challenges at Schiphol
Back in the Netherlands, the situation at Schiphol remains fluid. The airport has warned that the tally of cancelled flights is likely to increase throughout the day as staff continue to battle the icy conditions to ensure safety. The provision of camp beds highlights the scale of the overnight disruption, turning sections of the airport into makeshift dormitories.
This episode underscores the vulnerability of major European transport infrastructure to extreme winter weather, causing cascading delays, cancellations, and significant inconvenience for thousands of passengers during a key travel period.
