A cold wave sweeping across Europe since Sunday has caused significant disruptions in transportation across several countries, particularly in Germany and the United Kingdom. Airports in both countries have been forced to suspend flights due to heavy snowfall and freezing rain. Major highways have also been closed in northern England and Wales.
On Thursday, Manchester Airport warned passengers of possible delays due to the temporary closure of runways after recent snowfall. “Our runways are temporarily closed due to significant snow levels, and our teams are working to clear them as quickly as possible,” the airport said in a statement. “Some departures and arrivals may still be delayed,” the statement continued.
According to the weather service’s report, large parts of the UK are facing difficulties due to heavy snowfalls. Extreme weather conditions have also caused major disruptions in transport in Germany, where up to 10 centimeters of fresh snow fell in Cologne. Frankfurt Airport canceled 120 of its 1,090 scheduled takeoffs and landings, while Munich Airport only opened one of its runways. A total of 35 flights were canceled as a precaution at the second-largest airport in Germany, with 750 scheduled departures and landings.
Long-distance rail connections also faced irregularities in the Frankfurt region. At Stuttgart Airport, de-icing of aircraft caused flight delays. Similarly, at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, several delays and flight cancellations were reported due to winter weather conditions. According to an airport spokesperson, about 70 flights were canceled, mainly to and from European destinations.
In France, 120 of the 1,090 planned departures and arrivals were canceled. Airport capacity was limited due to runway clearing operations and reduced visibility, according to airport operator Fraport.
