Irish air travel is experiencing fresh turbulence as an Arctic airmass settles over the island, bringing freezing fog, hard frosts and snow that are disrupting operations at Dublin, Cork and Belfast airports.

With European hubs such as Amsterdam Schiphol simultaneously grappling with snow and high winds, passengers on routes between Ireland and the continent are facing a growing wave of delays and cancellations at the height of the New Year travel period.

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Arctic blast tightens its grip on Ireland’s air network

From the early hours of January 3, 2026, airlines and airport operators across Ireland have been battling the effects of a sharp cold snap driven by a northerly airflow pulling polar air down over the country.

Met Éireann has issued multiple Status Yellow warnings for low temperatures, ice and snow across much of the Republic, with overnight lows widely between minus 2 and minus 4 degrees Celsius and severe frost creating hazardous conditions for road and air travel alike.

At Dublin Airport, where traffic typically peaks in the early morning, freezing fog and persistent sub-zero temperatures have complicated routine de-icing operations on aircraft and ground equipment.

Airport operator daa reported dozens of cancellations and significant delays in the first wave of departures on Friday and Saturday, forcing airlines to consolidate services and rebook passengers onto later flights as slots became available.

Cork Airport and both Belfast airports, which are more exposed to wintry showers sweeping in from the Atlantic and the Irish Sea, have also seen operations slow under the strain of de-icing backlogs and intermittent snow and ice on aprons and taxiways.

While the runways themselves have largely remained open thanks to continuous treatment, the combination of reduced visibility, icy surfaces and aircraft turnaround delays has led to knock-on disruption throughout the day.

Amsterdam routes among the hardest hit

The impact of the Arctic weather has been magnified by conditions further afield, particularly at Amsterdam Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest connecting hubs and a key gateway for Irish passengers heading to continental Europe and beyond.

Schiphol has been contending with snow showers and strong crosswinds that have forced air traffic control to limit movements, prompting KLM and other carriers to pre-emptively trim schedules.

Dublin to Amsterdam services operated by KLM and Aer Lingus have been among the first to be cancelled or heavily delayed as airlines attempt to keep aircraft and crews in position on a day when both ends of the route are weather-affected.

Several rotations between Cork and Amsterdam, and between Belfast and the Dutch hub, have also been scrubbed, leaving passengers in Ireland facing rerouting through London, Paris or Frankfurt, or waiting for spare seats on later departures.

Travel industry trackers report that Amsterdam has consistently ranked among Europe’s most disrupted airports over the past 48 hours by number of cancellations and delays, with knock-on effects rippling through airline networks.

For Irish airports, where Amsterdam flights often connect onto long-haul services to North America, Asia and Africa, these cancellations have stranded some transfer passengers and forced others into overnight stays or complex rebookings.

Dublin Airport: freezing fog, de-icing delays and rolling knock-ons

Dublin Airport, Ireland’s primary international gateway, has borne the brunt of the disruption within the state.

On Friday’s first working day of 2026, freezing fog settled over the airfield during the early morning peak, grounding scores of flights as visibility dropped and crews struggled to complete mandatory de-icing procedures in time for scheduled departures.

Airport authorities said that runways, taxiways and access roads had been fully treated overnight in anticipation of the cold snap, but that persistent fog and ice had slowed down the entire departure process.

Between 05:00 and 10:00 alone, around 50 outbound and a similar number of inbound flights were cancelled, affecting some of the airport’s busiest short-haul routes to London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris.

Airlines prioritized safety and regulatory requirements, cancelling flights where turnaround times could not be safely met.

Although visibility gradually improved and the pace of operations picked up later in the day, the early disruption created a rolling backlog. Aircraft and crew were left out of sequence, leading to a series of further delays into the afternoon and evening as carriers sought to recover schedules.

Some passengers experienced waits of several hours, while others were rebooked for travel on Saturday or Sunday.

On Saturday morning, continued sharp frosts and the risk of further fog meant that ground crews again faced challenging conditions.

While the volume of outright cancellations at Dublin eased compared with the previous day, airlines operating to susceptible hubs like Amsterdam, Munich and Geneva continued to trim frequencies, advising passengers to check flight status before setting out for the airport.

Cork and Belfast airports contend with snow, ice and regional warnings

Further south, Cork Airport has been operating under the same Status Yellow low temperature and ice warnings that cover much of Munster and the east and midlands.

Forecasters warn of temperatures dipping as low as minus 4 degrees in parts of Cork overnight, with sharp frost and icy stretches on untreated surfaces.

These conditions have slowed ground handling operations, and several Cork–Amsterdam flights have already been cancelled as airlines adjust to curbs at Schiphol.

Cork has also reported delays to other European services, particularly early-morning departures when aircraft require multiple de-icing treatments before leaving the stand.

Airport management has urged passengers to allow extra time for their journey, noting that surrounding road networks are also affected by ice and that car parks and walkways are being gritted on a rolling basis.

In Northern Ireland, both Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport are operating under Met Office yellow warnings for snow and ice stretching through the weekend and into Monday.

Wintry showers have been forecast to become more widespread, with accumulations of up to 10 centimetres in higher or more exposed areas, and authorities warn of potentially dangerous driving and walking conditions at times.

Belfast City, with its concentration of short-haul routes to British and European cities, has been particularly exposed to the combination of local weather and disruption at connecting hubs.

Several flights to Amsterdam and to UK cities experiencing their own snow-related delays have been cancelled or subject to severe hold-ups, with some passengers reporting waits of up to seven hours.

Belfast International, which handles more leisure and low-cost traffic, has also seen a number of services curtailed, though runway closures have so far been avoided.

Met Éireann and Met Office warn of hazardous travel conditions

The current disruption follows a series of weather advisories from both Met Éireann and the UK Met Office, which cover the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively.

In recent days, Met Éireann has issued overlapping Status Yellow warnings for snow, ice and low temperatures across large swathes of the country, specifically flagging hazardous travel conditions, poor visibility and icy stretches on roads and footpaths.

The national forecaster has said that a very cold Arctic airmass is now firmly established over Ireland, driven by a blocking high-pressure system in the Atlantic that is steering air from the north directly over the island.

Forecasters highlight frosty and icy nights as the chief risk, with sleet and snow showers most likely in Ulster and north Connacht, while many other regions will experience clear but bitterly cold days.

Across the border, the Met Office has issued successive yellow snow and ice warnings for all six counties of Northern Ireland, valid from Friday afternoon through to midday on Monday.

The alerts highlight the risk of travel disruption on untreated roads and public transport networks, and stress that rural routes, higher ground and shaded areas are particularly vulnerable to compacted snow and black ice.

Transport operators, including airport authorities, have been in close contact with forecasters and local councils as they coordinate gritting schedules, staffing and contingency plans.

While the current warnings stop short of the more severe orange or red alerts that would typically trigger widespread closures, officials caution that conditions can deteriorate rapidly in localized pockets, especially during the late night and early morning hours.

Airlines adjust schedules and advise flexible travel plans

As the Arctic conditions persist, airlines serving Irish airports are revising their schedules on an almost hourly basis, particularly on vulnerable short-haul routes that rely on tight aircraft rotations.

Carriers including KLM, Aer Lingus, Ryanair and British Airways have all cancelled a selection of flights between Ireland and major European hubs such as Amsterdam, London, Paris and Frankfurt, citing weather and air traffic control restrictions.

Industry sources say that airlines are aiming to protect as much of their core schedule as possible by selectively cancelling flights with alternative options for rebooking, such as routes with multiple daily frequencies.

Where feasible, carriers are consolidating lightly booked services, deploying larger aircraft, or re-routing passengers via hubs that are less affected by snow and fog.

Passenger rights regulations in the European Union and the United Kingdom entitle travellers whose flights are cancelled to re-routing or refunds, though compensation may not be payable when weather is deemed an extraordinary circumstance beyond the airline’s control.

Airlines are encouraging customers to manage bookings online or via mobile apps in order to relieve pressure on call centres and airport ticket desks, which have been extremely busy over the past 48 hours.

Travel agents and tour operators are also advising clients to build in additional buffer time for connections, especially where itineraries involve changing planes at Amsterdam, London Heathrow or Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Some corporate travel managers have opted to postpone non-essential trips until the cold spell eases and schedules stabilize, in order to avoid the risk of employees being stranded en route.

What travellers can expect in the coming days

With weather warnings in place through at least Monday morning and forecasts pointing to continued frosty nights and the possibility of further wintry showers, passengers using Ireland’s airports over the next several days should prepare for continued disruption.

While the scale of cancellations may ease if visibility improves and snow showers remain scattered, the combination of low temperatures and Europe-wide air traffic restrictions means that delays are likely to remain a feature of travel plans.

Airport authorities in Dublin, Cork and Belfast are urging travellers to monitor flight information closely before setting off, to allow extra time for journeys to the airport, and to come prepared for longer waits at terminals should their flights be delayed.

Colder conditions also mean that outdoor areas, car parks and access roads may remain icy even after treatment, so passengers are being asked to take care when walking or driving around airport grounds.

For those connecting through Amsterdam and other European hubs, the key uncertainty lies in how quickly those airports can clear their own backlogs as fresh snow and wind gusts move through.

If runways remain open and de-icing resources are sufficient to keep turnarounds flowing, airlines may be able to restore a more normal pattern of operations within a few days.

However, further waves of snow or freezing fog could prolong the disruption and lead to additional schedule cuts.

Travel experts recommend that anyone with non-essential trips scheduled over the next 48 to 72 hours consider whether their plans can be brought forward, delayed or switched to rail and ferry alternatives, particularly on short cross-channel routes.

For those who must fly, the best preparation remains flexible bookings, good travel insurance and a readiness to adapt plans at short notice.

FAQ

Q1. Which Irish airports are currently most affected by the Arctic weather?
Dublin Airport has seen the largest number of cancellations and delays due to its size and the impact of freezing fog on early-morning operations, while Cork Airport and both Belfast airports are also reporting significant disruption linked to ice, snow showers and de-icing backlogs.

Q2. Why are flights to and from Amsterdam being cancelled so frequently?
Amsterdam Schiphol is dealing with its own winter weather problems, including snow and strong winds that limit runway capacity. When both Ireland and the Netherlands are weather-affected, airlines often cancel or consolidate flights on the route to keep aircraft and crew in position and comply with air traffic control restrictions.

Q3. How long are the Met Éireann and Met Office warnings expected to remain in place?
Current Status Yellow warnings for low temperatures, ice and snow cover much of Ireland and Northern Ireland through the weekend and into Monday morning, with forecasters expecting very cold nights and the risk of wintry showers to continue in the short term.

Q4. Are runways at Dublin, Cork and Belfast closed?
As of the latest updates, runways at the main Irish airports have generally remained open thanks to continuous gritting and snow-clearing, but aircraft movements are slowed by de-icing requirements and occasional visibility issues, which is why delays and cancellations are still occurring.

Q5. What rights do passengers have if their flight is cancelled because of the weather?
Under EU and UK passenger rights rules, travellers whose flights are cancelled are entitled to a choice between re-routing at the earliest opportunity or a refund of the unused ticket, though cash compensation is usually not payable when disruption is caused by severe weather outside the airline’s control.

Q6. How can I check if my flight is affected before going to the airport?
Passengers should use their airline’s official app or website, or consult the live departures and arrivals pages provided by the airport. Many carriers are also sending direct notifications by text or email, but travellers are advised to actively check status rather than relying solely on push alerts.

Q7. What practical steps should travellers take if they must fly during this cold spell?
Allow extra time to reach the airport, pack essential medications and chargers in hand luggage, bring warm clothing in case of long waits, and ensure your contact details are up to date with the airline so you can receive rebooking information quickly if your flight changes.

Q8. Are connecting flights at other European hubs also being disrupted?
Yes, hubs such as London, Paris, Frankfurt and especially Amsterdam have seen waves of delays and cancellations linked to snow, ice and strong winds, which can cause missed connections and longer layovers for passengers starting their journey in Ireland.

Q9. Could the situation worsen in the coming days?
If forecast wintry showers become more frequent or if freezing fog returns during peak operating hours, further cancellations and extended delays are possible. Conversely, if visibility remains good and snow stays light and scattered, airlines and airports should gradually be able to reduce the level of disruption.

Q10. What alternatives exist if my short-haul flight is cancelled?
Depending on your route, options may include rebooking on a later flight, switching to a different airline, or using a combination of rail and ferry services via Britain or continental Europe. Travel agents can help identify workable alternatives, particularly for time-sensitive journeys.