Europe: Heavy snowfall brought major disruption to travel across parts of Europe on Monday, grounding flights, halting trains, and clogging roads in France and the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, operations at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport were severely affected, with around 700 flights cancelled after the airport temporarily shut down incoming air traffic until midday. One of Europe’s busiest airports, Schiphol, saw aircraft diverted to alternative destinations as snow accumulated on runways and taxiways, leaving thousands of passengers stranded inside terminals.
Rail travel across the Amsterdam region also came to a near standstill. Dutch railway operator NS suspended all train services around the capital, citing unsafe track conditions, and warned that disruptions were likely to continue.
The company said it would switch to a reduced winter timetable from Tuesday, operating fewer trains nationwide. International services were hit as well, with Eurostar cancelling departures from the Netherlands and limiting services to Brussels for trains originally bound for Dutch cities.
Across the border in France, snowfall caused widespread delays and congestion, particularly in and around Paris. The country’s civil aviation authority ordered airlines to cut flights at the capital’s two main airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, through the evening. Paris airports reduced take-offs and landings as crews worked to keep runways operational.
Public transport was also affected. Paris transport operator RATP suspended dozens of bus routes due to icy roads, although metro and suburban rail services continued to operate. Road conditions deteriorated rapidly, with traffic congestion across the Ile-de-France region stretching close to 1,000 kilometres at its peak, more than three times typical levels.
French transport officials urged travellers to check the status of flights before heading to airports and advised caution on the roads. Speed limits were lowered across the Paris region as emergency services dealt with accidents linked to snow and ice.
Authorities in both countries warned that further delays were likely in the days ahead as cold weather persists. Travellers were advised to stay home where possible and to expect ongoing disruption across air, rail, and road networks as winter conditions continue to challenge Europe’s transport systems.
