European travel disrupted as deadly cold snap cancels hundreds of flights

(AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) — If you’re flying through Amsterdam today, expect major disruption: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is dealing with Storm Goretti and a severe cold snap, triggering hundreds of canceled flights and long delays across Europe’s biggest hubs.

Schiphol said at least 700 flights have been scrapped, and Dutch carrier KLM alone preemptively pulled 600 flights on Wednesday after canceling 400 on Tuesday. Airport staff set up camp beds for stranded travelers, with more than 1,000 passengers reported to have slept at the terminal overnight as snow, ice, and high winds intensified.

Paris airports are also taking a hit. By Wednesday morning, about 100 flights were canceled at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and around 40 at Paris Orly (ORY). Brussels Airport reported roughly 40 cancellations, plus day-long delays tied to de-icing and turnaround times.

Cancellations snapshot

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot directed airlines to cut schedules at Paris airports, ordering at least 40% of flights canceled at CDG and 25% at Orly. Officials said they hoped operations would improve later in the day, but conditions remained volatile.

Across the region, the cold snap is biting hard. Parts of Germany saw temperatures around -14°C with widespread snow cover. The United Kingdom logged -12°C in Norfolk, alongside road warnings. In France, winter weather contributed to at least 1,000 km of congestion near Paris and reports of multiple fatal accidents.

Why this matters even if you aren’t flying today

Weather disruptions at Schiphol can ripple across airline networks fast. AMS is one of Europe’s top connecting hubs, with heavy connecting traffic to the U.S., Canada, and Asia. When departures get cut, inbound aircraft and crews land out of position, which can cancel flights tomorrow even if the forecast improves.

Paris and Brussels face similar issues, especially on short-haul flights that feed long-haul banks. If your itinerary connects through AMS, CDG, ORY, or BRU this week, your “safe” backup flight can disappear quickly.

Rail is also struggling, removing a common Plan B:

• Dutch domestic trains were halted early Tuesday after an IT failure and weather issues, with partial service later resuming.
• Eurostar warned of severe delays and cancellations on key routes, including London–Paris, London–Brussels, and London–Amsterdam.
• Some Amsterdam–Paris services were canceled or delayed.

Heads Up: If your flight is marked “canceled,” don’t go to the airport hoping it will reverse. Rebooking lines can be shorter online, and terminals can become capacity-controlled.

Your rights: refunds and rerouting (but likely no cash compensation)

Under EU Regulation EC 261, airlines must offer duty-of-care when you’re delayed or stranded, even for weather. That usually includes:

• Rebooking (rerouting) at the earliest opportunity, or a refund if you choose not to travel.
• Meals and refreshments for long delays (thresholds vary by flight length).
• Hotel accommodation and transport if you’re stuck overnight.
• Two free communications (calls or emails) in many cases.

What you probably won’t get is extra cash compensation. Severe weather is typically treated as an “extraordinary circumstance,” which removes the compensation requirement. You still keep the right to rebooking, refund, and care.

Loyalty and miles: what to do if you booked with points

This week’s chaos will test airline apps and call centers, especially at KLM and partners that funnel traffic through Schiphol. If you booked an award ticket, the playbook differs slightly:

• Flying Blue (KLM/Air France): If KLM cancels your flight, ask for a same-day reroute, including on partners, when seats exist. Award inventory can be tight, but irregular operations can open manual options.
• SkyTeam partners: Delta, Virgin Atlantic, and others may be able to reissue partner tickets. This can be faster if the marketing carrier is overwhelmed.
• Status matters: Elite lines (Flying Blue, Delta Medallion, etc.) tend to move quicker during mass disruptions. Use that phone number first.
• Protect your connections: If you have a long-haul award with a short-haul positioning flight, treat them as a single risk. If they’re on separate tickets, one cancellation can strand you.

Competitive context matters: Amsterdam is KLM’s home hub, while Paris is split between Air France at CDG and more point-to-point flying at ORY. In practice, Schiphol disruptions often hit KLM’s network hardest, while CDG cuts can cascade through Air France’s long-haul banks and SkyTeam connections.

Pro Tip: If you’re rebooked onto a different carrier, keep screenshots of the new itinerary and receipts. Winter disruptions create long “care” reimbursement timelines.

Practical steps to take right now

1. Check your flight status in the airline app, not just the airport website. Airlines may cancel flights before the airport updates.
2. Rebook first, ask questions later. Take the best available routing, then fine-tune once you’re protected.
3. Consider re-routing around the worst hubs. If you can avoid AMS or CDG, look at options via London, Frankfurt, Zurich, or Copenhagen, depending on your alliance.
4. Pack for an unplanned overnight. Carry chargers, medication, and one change of clothes in your cabin bag.

If you’re due to fly through Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Thursday or Friday, lock in a backup routing tonight while seats still exist, and screenshot your current booking before Storm Goretti triggers another round of canceled flights.