Passengers traveling across Europe this week are facing a new wave of disruption as severe winter weather and knock-on operational issues lead to hundreds of delayed and dozens of cancelled flights.

Fresh data from passenger rights platforms and airport operators indicate that at least 357 flights have been delayed and 31 cancelled across key markets including France, the Netherlands, Italy, Finland, the United Kingdom and Spain, with major hubs such as Paris, Amsterdam, London and Barcelona among the hardest hit.

Airlines including Lufthansa, easyJet, KLM and several low cost carriers are working to rebook passengers as pressure grows on an already stretched winter schedule.

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Winter Weather and Windstorms Heap Pressure on European Hubs

The latest disruption comes against the backdrop of an exceptionally turbulent 2025 to 2026 winter season in Europe, marked by repeated bouts of heavy snow, freezing rain and powerful windstorms. Meteorological agencies have warned that systems such as Storm Goretti in early January 2026 created a cascade of problems for aviation, including reduced runway capacity, the suspension of ground handling operations and extended de-icing times at major airports in France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Spain.

At Amsterdam Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, a recent storm episode forced the cancellation of more than 325 flights and delays to more than 600 others in a single day as heavy snow and shifting crosswinds made operations unsafe and limited runway use. KLM and easyJet were among the carriers hardest hit as crews and aircraft fell out of position, creating a backlog that has spilled into subsequent days and affected connections across the continent.

In France, the Paris region has faced repeated high wind and snow alerts that have slowed traffic at Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Authorities have issued top-level warnings for violent gusts and icy conditions, prompting precautionary schedule cuts, tighter spacing between aircraft and occasional temporary runway closures. These measures, while aimed at safety, have translated into widespread delays and a rising tally of short-notice cancellations.

France, Netherlands, UK, Spain, Italy and Finland Bear the Brunt

The current pattern of disruption is highly concentrated in a cluster of major aviation markets, with France and the Netherlands repeatedly appearing among the most affected countries for both delays and cancellations. Recent analyses of European reliability show that the Netherlands and Finland have recorded some of the highest cancellation rates on the continent, while airports in Spain have struggled with punctuality as winter capacity and congestion interact with volatile weather.

In the United Kingdom, wind and snow associated with the recent storms have generated significant delays at London’s main airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, where air traffic flow restrictions and de-icing operations have slowed the departure sequences. Regional airports in northern England and Scotland have also experienced rolling disruptions as snow bands move through, forcing periodic runway closures and lengthy ground holds.

Spain and Italy, typically seen as beneficiaries of more temperate Mediterranean weather, have not been spared. Barcelona and Madrid have both reported spikes in delayed departures as upstream disruption in France and the UK disturbs aircraft rotations, and as occasional bouts of heavy rain and coastal winds force air traffic control to meter arrivals and departures. In Italy, capacity constraints at Rome and Milan during peak hours amplify the impact of even modest weather-related slowdowns, pushing some flights into long delays and making missed connections more common.

Delayed 357, Cancelled 31: Numbers Mask Wider Knock-On Chaos

While the headline figures for the latest disruption wave point to at least 357 delayed flights and 31 cancellations across the six highlighted countries, aviation analysts caution that these numbers only capture part of the passenger experience. In practice, a single cancellation or extended delay can cascade through airline networks, leading to missed connections, overnight misplacement of aircraft and crew, and residual disruptions lasting well into the following day.

Data from flight disruptions trackers in January 2026 show that similar events earlier in the month produced more than 250 delays and two dozen cancellations on one day, followed by another incident with 46 cancellations and more than 500 delays spread across France, the Netherlands, Turkey, Spain and Russia. On one of the worst recent days, over 2,100 flights were delayed and 120 cancelled across 14 European countries, underscoring how quickly conditions can deteriorate when weather and operational bottlenecks align.

The current tally of 31 cancellations also obscures the degree of rerouting and diversion that airlines have been forced to undertake. Some flights that technically operate may land at alternate airports when crosswinds or visibility at the scheduled destination fall outside safety limits. Others are significantly rescheduled or combined, leaving passengers with long layovers or last minute changes that may be recorded simply as delays but feel like full scale trip disruptions.

Lufthansa, easyJet, KLM and Others Struggle to Maintain Schedules

For airlines, the latest disruptions continue a challenging winter season in which even carriers with deep experience of harsh European weather have struggled to maintain reliable timetables. Lufthansa, which has already faced major weather related disruptions this winter, has once again had to trim schedules at German and neighboring airports as conditions deteriorate in surrounding countries and connecting traffic from France, the Netherlands and the UK arrives late or not at all.

Budget carrier easyJet, with a network that heavily relies on movements between the UK, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy, is particularly exposed when multiple hubs are hit simultaneously. A delay at London Gatwick can echo across services to Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona and Milan, leaving aircraft and crew out of position and forcing late evening cancellations on routes where airport curfews limit the ability to operate catch up flights.

KLM has spent much of January managing the aftermath of snow and wind related disruption at its Amsterdam base. The Dutch flag carrier’s travel alerts have repeatedly highlighted irregular operations and offered passengers rebooking and refund options when severe weather or security issues, such as the recent situation in Entebbe, affect its long haul and European schedules. Each fresh wave of weather related delays in northern Europe adds further strain to crew rosters and aircraft maintenance windows, factors that can translate into additional cancellations even once the skies clear.

Paris, Amsterdam, London and Barcelona Among Hardest Hit Cities

From a passenger perspective, the brunt of the current disruption is being felt at a familiar group of European hubs. Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly sit at the intersection of dense domestic, European and long haul networks, making them especially vulnerable when strong winds and ice reduce runway throughput. Flights to regional French cities, transatlantic destinations and popular leisure markets in Spain and Italy have all seen elevated levels of delay as air traffic control and airport operators prioritize safety margins.

Amsterdam Schiphol continues to be one of the focal points of disruption. Recent snowstorms and crosswinds have led to the temporary closure of some runways, while ground handling operations were paused when conditions became too dangerous for ramp workers. The resulting backlog has impacted departures to London, Paris, Barcelona and numerous secondary European cities, with connecting passengers left scrambling to rebook missed onward flights.

In London, a combination of weather related air traffic flow restrictions and already tight runway capacity has created a fragile situation at Heathrow and Gatwick. Even modest wind shifts requiring changes in runway configuration can ripple across the day’s schedule. Flights headed for Barcelona, Amsterdam and Paris have been among those most commonly pushed back as controllers absorb arrival and departure delays from elsewhere in Europe and adjust spacing between aircraft during periods of reduced visibility or gusty conditions.

Barcelona El Prat, one of the Mediterranean’s key gateways, has seen disruptions both from local weather and from late arriving aircraft that originate in more storm affected northern countries. Airlines have reported a higher incidence of turnarounds departing behind schedule, especially in the morning wave after aircraft and crew arrived late the previous night. That pattern increases the likelihood that afternoon and evening services, including those connecting Spain with the UK, France and the Netherlands, will be subject to significant delays or cancellations.

Rising Structural Strain on Europe’s Aviation System

Beyond the immediate storm systems, industry observers point to deeper structural issues that are compounding the impact of each new disruption. Following the post pandemic rebound, many airlines are operating with leaner staffing and tighter scheduling, leaving less slack in crew rosters and aircraft rotations. Ground handling services in several countries, including Spain and the Netherlands, have faced capacity challenges, meaning that tasks such as de-icing, baggage loading and aircraft towing take longer during peak periods or in poor weather.

At the same time, air traffic control infrastructure in parts of Europe remains under pressure. Past strikes involving controllers in France, Italy and Spain have underscored how dependent the continent’s skies are on a thin network of critical centers. Even when controllers are working normally, the need to activate weather related flow restrictions can quickly lead to airborne holding patterns, extended taxi queues and last minute diversions that strain both fuel planning and crew duty limits.

Passenger rights organizations note that Finland and the Netherlands have recently posted some of the highest cancellation rates in Europe, while Spain has seen a sharp rise in delayed operations compared with previous years. These trends, they argue, point to a system that is increasingly vulnerable to any external shock, whether meteorological or operational, and suggest that travelers should expect volatility to remain a feature of European air travel through the remainder of the winter season.

What Passengers Can Expect and How Airlines Are Responding

For travelers caught up in the latest wave of delays and cancellations, the immediate priority is often securing a new routing or departure date. Airlines such as KLM, Lufthansa and easyJet have activated standard disruption playbooks, which include automatic rebooking where possible, the issuance of travel vouchers or refunds for severely delayed or cancelled flights, and the provision of hotel accommodation for passengers who are stranded overnight due to carrier controlled issues.

However, capacity constraints mean that rebooking options can be limited, especially on popular trunk routes between cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona. With many flights already operating near capacity, particularly on Fridays and Sundays, displaced passengers sometimes face waits of 24 hours or more for the next available seat. In some cases, airlines are advising customers to consider alternative airports or multimodal journeys that combine rail segments with shorter flights.

Industry experts recommend that passengers monitor their flight status closely via airline apps and airport information screens, arrive at the airport earlier than usual when severe weather is forecast, and keep essential items such as medications and basic toiletries in their carry on baggage in case of unexpected overnight stays. They also note that European passenger protection regulations provide for compensation in certain cases of cancellation or long delay, though airlines are generally not liable to pay compensation when the root cause is classified as extraordinary circumstances, such as extreme weather.

Outlook for the Coming Days

With winter far from over and meteorological agencies flagging the possibility of further storm systems sweeping across northern and western Europe, aviation authorities and airlines are bracing for continued volatility. Forecasts for late January indicate that additional periods of high winds, heavy precipitation and freezing temperatures are likely in parts of France, the Netherlands, the UK and Scandinavia, all of which are critical to Europe’s air traffic flows.

Airlines are attempting to build more resilience into their operations by slightly padding block times, holding reserve aircraft at key hubs and adjusting crew patterns to reduce the risk of widespread knock on disruption when weather deteriorates. Airport operators in cities such as Paris, Amsterdam and London are reviewing de icing capacity and snow clearance resources with an eye to speeding up recovery after major events.

For passengers, the immediate consequence is that schedules may continue to shift at short notice, and that temporary reductions in capacity could become a recurring feature of travel until the end of the winter timetable. While the figure of 357 delayed and 31 cancelled flights captures the current episode, the broader picture is of a European aviation network operating close to its limits under volatile conditions, where even a single new storm system can quickly turn a routine travel day into a prolonged ordeal.