Snow Disrupts Amsterdam Airport Operations
332 Delays and 85 Cancellations at Schiphol
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport faced a major operational breakdown as 332 flights were delayed and 85 cancelled in a single day, leaving thousands of passengers stranded across the Netherlands and beyond. The disruption affected both short-haul and long-haul schedules and significantly impacted leading European carriers.
KLM recorded the highest number of cancellations with 55 flights called off and 149 delayed. Other airlines hit by the disruption included easyJet, SAS, Air France, Swiss, Lufthansa CityLine, Vueling, British Airways, Austrian Airlines and Air Baltic.
As one of Europe’s primary aviation hubs, Schiphol’s disruption quickly triggered knock-on effects throughout the continent.
Key European Routes Severely Affected
Major routes connecting Amsterdam with Vienna, London, Paris, Oslo and Manchester experienced substantial delays and cancellations. Four Vienna flights were cancelled and three delayed, while London routes saw three cancellations and eight delays. Paris recorded two cancellations and five delays, and Oslo two cancellations with six delays.
Given Schiphol’s role as a central transfer hub, the operational breakdown spread to airports in the United Kingdom, Austria, France, Norway and other destinations, amplifying congestion across European airspace.
Severe Weather as the Primary Trigger
The disruption was primarily caused by severe winter weather conditions across the Netherlands and parts of Northern Europe. Snowfall, icy runways and dense fog reduced visibility and created hazardous take-off and landing conditions. Airlines opted to delay or cancel flights to maintain safety standards.
The weather system also affected neighboring countries, compounding logistical challenges across regional air networks. Despite Schiphol’s advanced infrastructure, the combined impact of high traffic volumes and adverse conditions tested operational capacity.
Operational Bottlenecks Intensify Disruption
In addition to weather-related challenges, operational constraints contributed to the scale of the crisis. Staffing shortages, ground handling delays and terminal congestion amplified the ripple effect, limiting the airport’s ability to recover quickly.
The accumulation of delayed aircraft and passengers created slot shortages and extended turnaround times, prolonging the disruption well into subsequent schedules.
Passenger Rights and Market Impact
Under EU passenger rights regulations, travelers may be entitled to assistance such as meals or accommodation, though compensation rules differ when extraordinary circumstances like severe weather apply. Recovery from such large-scale disruptions can take several days due to the cascading nature of flight scheduling.
The incident at Schiphol represents one of the most significant aviation disruptions in Europe in early 2026, underscoring the vulnerability of major hubs to extreme weather events.
As International Investment experts report, the Schiphol disruption highlights the urgent need for stronger operational resilience and adaptive infrastructure strategies in European aviation, particularly as climate volatility increasingly affects air transport reliability.