A major snowstorm has disrupted air travel across Europe, cancelling 733 flights and delaying over 5,000 at key airports including Paris CDG, London Heathrow, Amsterdam Schiphol and Frankfurt.
A powerful winter snowstorm that began on February 15, 2026, has triggered massive travel disruption across Europe, cancelling 733 flights and delaying 5,092 more. Major hubs in the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and Greece have been severely impacted, affecting thousands of passengers and disrupting schedules for leading airlines.
Carriers including Air France, KLM, easyJet, Lufthansa, British Airways and SAS have reported widespread operational disruption.
From Paris and London to Amsterdam and Frankfurt, airports are struggling to manage icy runways, aircraft de-icing procedures and cascading delays across domestic and international networks.
Netherlands: Amsterdam Schiphol Faces Major Ground Disruptions
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has been among the hardest-hit hubs.
- 223 flight cancellations
- 241 flight delays
Snow accumulation and icy taxiways forced temporary operational slowdowns. KLM alone recorded 147 cancellations and 102 delays, particularly affecting short-haul Schengen routes.
Passengers have been advised to monitor rebooking options and prepare for extended airport wait times as de-icing operations continue.
France: Paris Airports Reduce Operations
Severe weather across northern France has significantly impacted operations at:
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
- 129 cancellations
- 228 delays
- Approximately 30% reduction in flight schedules
Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
- 15 cancellations
- 143 delays
- 20% reduction in operations
In total, France recorded 196 cancelled flights across multiple airports.
The Île-de-France region remains under snow and ice alert. Accumulation ranged from 1–3 cm in central Paris to up to 5 cm in outer departments including Yvelines and Seine-et-Marne.
The Air France-KLM Group reported a combined 289 cancellations and 316 delays across its network.
United Kingdom: Heathrow and Gatwick Disrupted
The snowstorm also hit major UK hubs.
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- 15 cancellations
- 216 delays
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
- 5 cancellations
- 258 delays
British Airways and easyJet have experienced heavy schedule disruptions. easyJet alone recorded 521 delayed flights across its network.
Authorities reduced road speed limits near airports and imposed restrictions on ground vehicle movements due to icy conditions.
Germany: Frankfurt and Munich See Cascading Delays
Germany’s aviation sector has also been heavily affected.
Munich Airport (MUC)
- 9 cancellations
- 233 delays
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- 10 cancellations
- 126 delays
Lufthansa Group, including regional subsidiaries, recorded 16 cancellations and 124 delays across its European network.
Snow accumulation and runway treatment operations continue to slow turnaround times.
Poland and Greece: Regional Impact Expands
Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW)
- 5 cancellations
- 79 delays
Athens International Airport (ATH)
- 19 cancellations
- 119 delays
Greek regional airports, including Rhodes and Heraklion, also experienced limited but notable operational disruption.
Scandinavia and Southern Europe
Snow warnings extended into Northern Europe.
- Oslo Airport (OSL): 13 cancellations, 362 delays
- Copenhagen Airport (CPH): 13 cancellations, 134 delays
- Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN): 7 cancellations, 76 delays
Southern hubs such as Madrid, Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa saw limited but measurable delays due to network knock-on effects.
Total Disruption Snapshot
Across Europe:
- 733 Flights Cancelled
- 5,092 Flights Delayed
The disruption has exposed how quickly severe winter weather can destabilize interconnected European aviation networks. Even airports with minimal snowfall experienced delays due to aircraft rotations and crew displacement.
Passenger Advisory
Travelers are urged to:
- Check airline websites or apps before departing for the airport
- Allow extra time for check-in and security
- Prepare for extended de-icing delays
- Consider flexible rebooking options
With freezing rain and additional snowfall forecasts in parts of Europe, further operational adjustments remain possible.
Conclusion
The February 15 snowstorm has created one of the most widespread winter aviation disruptions of the season. From Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to London Heathrow Airport and Frankfurt Airport, Europe’s busiest hubs are working to stabilize operations.
While warmer temperatures may help melt surface snow in some regions, the ripple effects of aircraft displacement and crew scheduling disruptions could continue into the coming days.
Passengers planning travel this week should remain vigilant, flexible and closely connected to airline updates as Europe’s aviation system works to recover from this severe winter event.
