Europe's Bitter Cold Snap Grounds Flights: What's Next for Paris and Schiphol?

January 6, 2026 at 04:20 PM•2 min read

Europe's bitter cold snap caused widespread flight cancellations at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol, leading to major travel chaos and six weather-related deaths.

Key Points

1Six weather-related deaths were reported across Europe, with five in France alone, highlighting the severe risks.
2Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) reported over 600 flight cancellations and faced a critical KLM de-icing fluid shortage.
3Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports planned major cancellations (40% and 25% respectively) for ground crew operations.
4Aviation safety relies on the EASA 'clean aircraft concept' and strict de-icing procedures, which slow operations in extreme cold.

Icy temperatures caused Europe cold snap travel chaos this week. Six weather-related deaths were reported across the continent. Five of these fatalities occurred in France alone. A woman also died in Bosnia after a tree collapsed from heavy snow. The severe conditions created winter weather aviation disruption across major hubs.

Major Airport Disruptions

Amsterdam Schiphol de-icing operations faced severe pressure. The Netherlands' main flight hub saw a second day of major cancellations. At least 600 flights were grounded on Tuesday. The airport was the world's most disrupted over the preceding weekend. Dutch carrier KLM was heavily impacted. The airline reported a KLM de-icing fluid shortage. Extreme weather and supply delays from Germany were blamed. KLM's de-icing team was using 85,000 liters of fluid daily. The airline had to cancel hundreds of flights. Passengers faced long queues and rebooking delays.

Paris's two main airports also planned significant cuts. Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Orly airports prepared for runway clearing. Forty percent of flights at Charles de Gaulle were to be scrapped. Orly airport planned to cancel 25 percent of its schedule. Several smaller French airports closed on Tuesday. In the United Kingdom, Liverpool and Aberdeen airports briefly shut on Monday. Temperatures in Norfolk, England, dropped to -12.5C. Nearly all of the UK was on alert for snow and ice.

Safety and Ground Operations

Ground operations winter safety is critical for flight safety. European aviation safety standards are strict. The EASA requires a "clean aircraft concept". This means all critical surfaces must be free of contaminants. Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 mandates de-icing procedures. These rules ensure the aircraft's aerodynamic properties are safe. The process involves de-icing and anti-icing. Anti-icing applies a fluid to prevent new ice formation.

Wider Travel Impact

The deep freeze extended beyond air travel. Trains in the Netherlands were brought to a standstill. The Dutch national railway resumed limited service later. Road conditions were perilous due to black ice. Five people died in road accidents in the Paris region and southwestern France. The European air travel delays are expected to continue. Transport authorities urged citizens to limit non-essential travel. For more updates on this and other commercial aviation news, visit flying.flights. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also provides global operational guidance.