A powerful winter storm has plunged Western Europe into travel chaos, forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights and disrupting road and rail networks. The severe weather, driven by Storm Goretti battering the Atlantic coast, has particularly impacted France, Britain, and the Netherlands.
Widespread Transport Disruption Across Major Hubs
Air travel has borne the brunt of the extreme conditions. In a significant move, France's civil aviation authority mandated a 40 per cent reduction in flights at Paris' main Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. The smaller Orly airport was ordered to cut schedules by 25 per cent. The heavy snowfall that blanketed Paris at dawn also brought the city's bus services to a standstill.
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, Dutch airline KLM cancelled a staggering 600 flights scheduled for Wednesday from Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. The airline cited a critical shortage of de-icing fluid for its aircraft, with supply chain delays hampering replenishment efforts. The airport authorities, however, confirmed they had sufficient stocks of a different fluid used for runway de-icing.
Further disruptions were reported in Brussels, where several flights were cancelled due to runway de-icing procedures.
Weather Warnings and Forecast
Meteorological agencies across the continent have issued stern warnings. Meteo France alerted the public to spreading snowfall across northern France. In the United Kingdom, the Met Office maintained ice warnings for Scotland but lifted them for most of England and Wales by late morning on January 7.
The forecast remains grim for southern Britain, which is expected to be heavily affected on Thursday and Friday, January 8 and 9, with cold weather warnings covering vast swathes of the country. The situation underscores the extensive reach of Storm Goretti's impact.
Broader Impact and Outlook
The storm's effects extend beyond aviation. Train services have been disrupted, and key roads have been blocked, creating a multi-modal transport crisis. The scene in Antwerp, Belgium, captured by Associated Press, of a cyclist navigating a snow-covered street, symbolises the challenges faced by commuters.
As authorities scramble to manage the situation, travellers are advised to check with their airlines and transport providers for real-time updates. The ongoing severe weather warnings suggest that the travel disruption in Western Europe is likely to persist for the next 48 hours, with recovery efforts dependent on the intensity of further snowfall.
