Extreme weather paralyzes Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, has announced at least 700 flight cancellations due to snow and high winds, following days of weather-related disruptions.

Authorities warned that cancellations are expected to rise as the day progresses, The Guardian reports.

More than 1,000 passengers spent the night at Schiphol, the airport said on January 7, adding that camp beds had been set up and breakfast provided for travelers forced to sleep on-site.

Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures have caused widespread disruption across parts of Europe this week. In France, five people were confirmed dead on January 6 in road collisions attributed to icy conditions.

About 100 flights were canceled at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport in the morning of January 7, while a further 40 flights were canceled at Orly Airport, French Transport Minister said. Public bus services in Paris and surrounding suburbs were suspended due to icy roads, although most metro and suburban rail systems remained operational.

Météo France reported that 38 of the country’s 96 Metropolitan departments, including Corsica, were on alert for heavy snow and black ice. Snow accumulation of 3–7 cm (approximately 1–3 in) has already been recorded. The agency described the cold snap as being of “rare intensity for the season.”

Authorities had already urged residents in the Paris region to avoid unnecessary travel and to work from home where possible.

By Vafa Guliyeva