European Air Travel Halted by Snowstorms and Strikes

Severe disruptions in European air travel occurred on February 15 and 16, 2026, due to a combination of snowstorms and labor strikes. This chaos affected hundreds of thousands of travelers across major airports.

Impact of Snowstorms and Strikes on Air Travel

On these dates, snow swept across the Benelux region and Germany, disrupting flight schedules significantly. More than 700 flights were canceled, and over 5,000 faced delays, as reported by various European media outlets.

Major Airports Affected

• Amsterdam Schiphol Airport: Roughly 50% of flights were either delayed or canceled. By evening, KLM had canceled 147 flights, and 102 flights faced delays.
• Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: Implemented a 30% reduction in flights, leading to 196 cancellations.
• London Airports: Heathrow and Gatwick experienced significant delays, with British Airways canceling 17 flights and easyJet delaying 521.
• Munich Airport: Reported 233 delayed flights and 9 cancellations.
• Frankfurt International: Faced 126 delays and 10 cancellations.

Labor Strikes Compound Problems

On February 16, a strike by Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew grounded approximately 800 flights, impacting around 100,000 passengers. The strike exacerbated an already challenging situation for travelers navigating through Frankfurt and Munich.

Travel Advice for Disrupted Passengers

Travelers affected by cancellations were encouraged to remain flexible. European air passenger rights regulations allow passengers to seek refunds or reroutes. Airlines are also responsible for care, including accommodations when necessary.

• Keep receipts for meals and hotel accommodations to claim reasonable costs.
• Consider rerouting through partner hubs like Zurich or Vienna if connections are canceled.

Future Flight Outlook

As weather conditions began to improve, delays persisted. Eurocontrol highlighted that further adverse conditions such as showers and hail could threaten European travel stability. Dutch rail services also warned of delays due to technical issues.

Lessons for Travelers and the Industry

This disruption underscores the vulnerabilities in Europe’s interconnected travel network. Airlines faced losses from cancellations and increased operational costs due to passenger care requirements. Meanwhile, travel agencies experienced a rise in inquiries along with additional workload from refunds.

As air travel attempts to return to normalcy, experts advise passengers to check flight statuses regularly, consider flexible booking options, and utilize travel insurance when possible. The events of mid-February serve as a reminder of how quickly winter weather and labor unrest can disrupt European air travel.