Hundreds of passengers were left stranded across Europe on Wednesday, January 7, as a severe winter storm and a critical de icing bottleneck converged to paralyze operations at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and ripple through hubs in Zurich, Copenhagen, Paris, Milan and other major cities.

According to operational data from European air traffic authorities and airport monitoring platforms, at least 601 flights were canceled and 387 delayed over the course of the day, disrupting schedules at KLM, Lufthansa and other German carriers, Austrian Airlines, ITA Airways, Swiss and a long list of partner and low cost airlines.

More News

Amsterdam Schiphol at the Center of Europe’s Winter Aviation Crisis

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport was once again the epicenter of the disruption, entering a sixth consecutive day of heavily curtailed operations as snow, ice and high winds reduced capacity and overwhelmed ground services.

Since January 2, Schiphol has seen more than 3,200 flights canceled, turning what began as a tough winter weekend into one of the most significant operational crises in the airport’s recent history.

Flight data providers report that just in the past 24 hours over 600 flights in and out of the Dutch hub were scrapped, with many of the remaining rotations suffering multi hour delays.

The impact at Schiphol goes far beyond local traffic. As KLM’s primary hub and an important transfer point for SkyTeam partners, Amsterdam sits at the crossroads of European, transatlantic and intercontinental networks.

When the airport restricts departures and arrivals, the knock on effects cascade quickly through feeder routes from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, as well as long haul services to North America, Asia and Africa.

Airlines have been forced to cancel rotations at outstations, re assign aircraft and crew and, in many cases, abandon tight connection banks altogether.

Schiphol’s challenges are compounded by a series of structural and weather related constraints: limited runway availability due to snow clearing, short de icing holdover times in persistent snowfall and strict air traffic flow restrictions imposed to maintain safety.

Eurocontrol, which coordinates European air traffic, has repeatedly asked airlines operating at Schiphol to slash large portions of their schedules, at one point advising cuts of up to 60 percent of planned flights on peak days.

De Icing Fluid Shortage Turns Severe Weather into a Systemwide Bottleneck

What began as a straightforward winter weather event has escalated into a much more complex operational emergency because of a shortage of aircraft de icing fluid at Amsterdam.

KLM, which is responsible not only for its own fleet but also for the majority of de icing operations at Schiphol, confirmed this week that stocks of glycol based fluid are running dangerously low.

The airline has dispatched emergency convoys to Germany in search of additional supplies, underscoring how critical the situation has become.

Over several days, KLM’s 25 de icing trucks have been operating around the clock, using an estimated 85,000 liters of fluid per day to keep aircraft surfaces clear of ice and snow.

The combination of intense, persistent snowfall and delays from the primary supplier has left the carrier with dwindling reserves. While Schiphol authorities say they have adequate quantities of runway de icing products, the scarcity of fluid for aircraft means that departures must be strictly rationed, and in some cases canceled outright, even when weather margins might otherwise permit safe operations.

Analysts describe the de icing shortage as a textbook example of a single point of failure in the aviation supply chain. In a region where such prolonged severe winter weather is relatively rare, stockpiles and logistics for specialized fluids are not configured for multi day surges of this magnitude.

That has turned Amsterdam’s storm response into a “crisis cascade,” with each additional day of snow further draining stocks and forcing airlines to preemptively ground services in order to preserve safety margins for the flights that do operate.

Ripple Effects Hit Zurich, Copenhagen, Paris and Milan

With Amsterdam hamstrung by both weather and de icing constraints, the disruption rapidly spread to other European hubs, many of which serve as key nodes in partner networks.

Airlines flying to and from Zurich, Copenhagen, Paris and Milan reported waves of cancellations and delays linked directly to the Schiphol bottleneck and the broader winter storm pattern sweeping across northern and western Europe.

In Zurich and Geneva, Swiss was forced to adjust its schedules after multiple inbound flights from Amsterdam and other affected cities were grounded.

While Switzerland is accustomed to winter operations, the sudden withdrawal of connecting traffic from the Netherlands and parts of Germany led to missed connections, aircraft out of position and longer downline delays.

Passengers heading toward Southern Europe and the Middle East through Swiss hubs faced last minute rebookings and overnight stays.

In Copenhagen, Scandinavian and partner flights were snarled as aircraft scheduled to arrive from the Netherlands and central Europe failed to materialize.

Similarly, in Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly, French authorities and airlines confronted their own snow related challenges, including dozens of local cancellations, just as they were attempting to absorb disrupted transfer passengers from Amsterdam.

Italy’s major gateways, particularly Milan Malpensa and Linate, felt the strain as ITA Airways and other carriers struggled to maintain reliable feeder services to and from central and northern Europe.

Operational data from airline and airport dashboards show that the 601 cancellations and 387 delays recorded on Wednesday were not evenly distributed.

Flights touching Amsterdam were disproportionately affected, but the web of alliances and codeshares meant that carriers far from the Netherlands still had to react to aircraft and crew stranded at outstations and to slots missed in the tightly regulated European air traffic system.

Passengers Face Long Queues, Cots and Difficult Choices

For passengers caught in the middle of the disruption, the most visible scenes of chaos have unfolded inside Schiphol’s terminals. Images from the airport show hundreds of travelers in snaking queues stretching for hundreds of meters at KLM service desks.

With online call centers overwhelmed by the volume of rebooking requests, many customers have chosen to remain in line overnight, sleeping on suitcases or airport supplied cots in the hope of securing a seat on the next available flight.

Some travelers reported spending more than 24 hours inside the terminal, repeatedly watching departure boards fill with red “canceled” notices as crews ran out of duty time and aircraft could not be de iced in time to make their slots.

The Dutch Red Cross has deployed volunteers to Schiphol on multiple nights to provide food, hot drinks and basic medical assistance to stranded passengers, including families with young children and elderly travelers.

Airport staff have also set up additional seating areas and directed travelers to nearby hotels where possible, although room availability quickly dried up during the peak of the storm.

Faced with uncertain timelines for rebooked flights, a growing number of passengers have opted for alternative routes out of the Netherlands and neighboring countries. Rail operators have reported increased demand on services to Germany, Belgium and France, although some lines have also struggled with snow and ice.

Long distance buses and ferries have become an unexpected lifeline for travelers determined to continue their journeys, especially those on intra European itineraries who can more easily switch to surface transport.

Airline guidance reflects this reality. KLM has publicly advised some passengers to consider alternative transportation where feasible and has offered reimbursements for modest meal and transport costs for those who choose to leave the airport and seek different routes.

However, for long haul travelers bound for other continents, flying often remains the only practical option, making patience and flexibility essential as airlines rebuild their schedules day by day.

KLM, German, Austrian, ITA and Swiss Airlines Scramble to Recover

KLM itself has borne the brunt of the cancellations, scrapping hundreds of flights each day since January 2.

Data compiled from flight tracking platforms indicates that the carrier has already canceled well over 2,000 flights in less than a week, representing more than half of its scheduled operations for that period, with cancellation rates on some days spiking above 90 percent of Amsterdam departures.

The airline has described the situation as unprecedented in recent years and has signaled that it expects further disruption as long as severe weather and de icing supply constraints persist.

German carriers, including Lufthansa and several smaller airlines operating from Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin and Düsseldorf, have also been heavily affected.

Many of their services to Amsterdam and other snow hit airports were either grounded or subject to lengthy delays as German hubs absorbed returning aircraft and passengers whose original itineraries had routed them through the Netherlands.

Operational reshuffles required airlines to swap widebody aircraft onto shorter routes to reposition capacity and maintain at least some long haul connectivity.

Austrian Airlines, which relies on Vienna as a central European connector, faced challenges keeping its meticulous wave structure of arrivals and departures intact. Canceled feeder flights from Amsterdam, Zurich and northern Germany forced last minute changes to connection guarantees and rebookings for passengers heading to the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia.

ITA Airways in Italy contended with gaps in its own network as flights to and from Paris, Amsterdam and certain German airports dropped out of the schedule, affecting onward services from Rome and Milan.

Swiss, operating from Zurich and Geneva, reported more manageable weather conditions locally but still had to deal with aircraft stuck across the continent. For all these carriers, one of the most delicate operational tasks has been crew scheduling.

As disruptions extend over several days, keeping pilots and cabin crew within legal duty time limits while also moving them to where they are needed has become increasingly complex.

Many airlines have warned that even after the weather improves, the aftershocks of these scheduling imbalances will continue to produce sporadic cancellations and delays.

What Passengers Need to Know About Rights and Next Steps

For travelers dealing with cancellations and long delays in and around the Netherlands, understanding their rights and options has become just as important as securing a new seat.

Under European passenger protection rules, airlines must offer a choice between a refund and rerouting to the final destination at the earliest opportunity in the event of a canceled flight.

They are also required to provide care, including meals, refreshments and accommodation where necessary, particularly when passengers are forced to wait overnight.

However, the extraordinary nature of the winter storm and the de icing fluid shortage complicates potential compensation claims.

Severe weather is typically classified as an extraordinary circumstance outside an airline’s control, which means that passengers are not entitled to additional monetary compensation for cancellations or long delays caused directly by the storm.

That said, the duty of care remains in force, so travelers should retain receipts for reasonable expenses such as food, local transportation and hotels if these are not arranged directly by the airline.

Authorities and consumer groups are urging passengers to use digital tools wherever possible to avoid the worst of the queues at airports.

Many airlines, including KLM, Lufthansa, Austrian, ITA and Swiss, have updated travel alerts in their apps and on their websites, allowing customers to rebook flights, request refunds and receive push notifications as schedules change.

Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport and to avoid traveling to the terminal if their flight has already been canceled and alternative arrangements have not yet been confirmed.

Industry observers stress that flexibility is crucial during a systemwide disruption of this scale. Accepting a rerouting through a different hub, traveling a day or two later than planned or arriving at a nearby airport instead of the original destination can significantly increase the chances of getting moving sooner.

For travelers whose trips are time sensitive, such as those connecting to cruises, events or tours, contacting travel insurers early and keeping detailed records of all communications with airlines may help facilitate claims later.

FAQ

Q1: Why were so many flights canceled and delayed in the Netherlands today?
Hundreds of flights were canceled and delayed primarily because of a severe winter storm bringing heavy snow, ice and strong winds to Amsterdam and other parts of northern Europe, combined with a shortage of aircraft de icing fluid at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport that limited the number of planes that could be safely prepared for departure.

Q2: Which airports were most affected by the disruption?
The most severe impact was felt at Amsterdam Schiphol, but the disruption spread to other major European hubs including Zurich, Copenhagen, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly, and Milan’s airports, as well as several regional airports connected to these hubs.

Q3: Which airlines experienced the largest number of cancellations?
KLM, as the main carrier at Amsterdam, suffered the largest number of cancellations, with well over 2,000 flights scrapped since January 2. German carriers, Austrian Airlines, ITA Airways, Swiss and several low cost airlines also recorded significant cancellations and delays on routes linked to the affected hubs.

Q4: How many flights were canceled and delayed overall today?
Operational data from airports and flight tracking services indicate that at least 601 flights were canceled and 387 were delayed on Wednesday, January 7, across Amsterdam and the connected European hubs, with the majority of those cancellations tied directly to the situation at Schiphol.

Q5: What is causing the de icing fluid shortage at Amsterdam?
The shortage stems from several days of continuous de icing operations that have consumed around 85,000 liters of glycol based fluid per day, combined with delays in deliveries from the main supplier. The intensity and duration of the storm exceeded the stockpiles and resupply capacity that are normally sufficient for the Dutch climate.

Q6: Are passengers entitled to compensation for these cancellations?
Under European rules, passengers have rights to refunds or rerouting and to care such as meals and accommodation, but additional monetary compensation is usually not owed when cancellations are caused by extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather. Travelers should still keep receipts and check with their airline, as policies and interpretations can vary.

Q7: What should travelers do if their flight is canceled?
Passengers whose flights are canceled should first check their airline’s app or website for automatic rebooking options or refund choices. If digital tools do not resolve the issue, they may need to contact the airline by phone or visit a service desk, though they should expect long wait times at airports like Schiphol during this period.

Q8: How long is the disruption expected to last?
Meteorological forecasts suggest that wintry conditions will persist for at least another day or two, and airlines warn that even after the weather improves, knock on effects such as displaced aircraft and crew scheduling issues could continue to cause scattered cancellations and delays for several days afterward.

Q9: Can travelers switch to trains or buses instead of waiting for a flight?
On many intra European routes it is possible to switch to rail, coach or ferry services, and some airlines are encouraging passengers with flexible plans to consider these alternatives. However, seats can fill quickly during major disruptions and some ground transport services are also affected by snow and ice, so travelers should plan ahead where possible.

Q10: What practical steps can passengers take to minimize disruption to their trips?
Passengers can improve their chances of a smoother journey by monitoring flight status frequently, registering for airline alerts, traveling with carry on luggage when feasible, accepting reroutings via different hubs or nearby airports, and allowing extra time for connections. Those with travel insurance should notify their insurer promptly if their plans are significantly disrupted.