Amsterdam: Heavy snowfall and ice has disrupted air, road and rail travel in France and the Netherlands, with hundreds of flights cancelled in the countries’ capitals, while trains around Amsterdam came to a standstill and bus services in Paris were suspended.
Amsterdam Schiphol airport cancelled about 700 flights on Monday and planes were diverted to other airports as the airport closed to incoming traffic until 1200 GMT (11pm AEDT). Airline KLM cancelled at least 300 flights for Tuesday as the winter weather crippled traffic at one of Europe’s main transit hubs for the fifth day in a row.
“There are long lines here,” a traveller stranded at Schiphol told Dutch media outlet AD. “There’s not too much clarity on what is actually going to happen.”
Snow caused havoc on roads in Paris.Credit: Hans Lucas via AFP
Meanwhile, France’s civil aviation authority asked carriers to reduce take-offs and landings by 15 per cent, or roughly 30 flights, at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and 40 flights at Paris-Orly until the evening, according to Aeroports de Paris.
1000km of traffic jams in Paris
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot urged travellers to check if their flight was operating before leaving home, and to use public transport to reach the airport.
A blast of Arctic air is spreading bitterly cold weather across much of Europe.Credit: Bloomberg
He also ordered speed restrictions of 80km/h on roads across the Ile-de-France region that surrounds Paris. State-owned RATP, which operates Paris’ public transportation, said it cancelled dozens of bus lines. Underground and suburban trains were operating normally.
Speed restrictions were ordered on some roads.Credit: Bloomberg
