Paris’s two principal airports endured another bruising day on 29 December, logging 379 delayed and 12 cancelled flights at Charles-de-Gaulle and a further 183 delays and two cancellations at Orly, according to analytics firm AirHelp. Airport operator Groupe ADP blamed a perfect storm of snow flurries, gusty cross-winds, Euro-control flow restrictions and post-holiday crew shortages.
The disruption rippled across airline networks. Long-haul departures to New York, Dubai and Tokyo missed connecting banks, while European feeders on Air France, easyJet and SAS saw rotation plans shredded. Ground handlers struggled to clear snow from parking stands quickly enough, leading to aircraft and crew out-of-position problems.
Although French air-traffic controllers were not on strike, staffing levels were thin after a gruelling Christmas peak. ADP warned airlines that stand-availability and de-icing capacity remain tight through 1 January. In response, carriers have drafted reserve crews, but any new weather band could tip the system back into crisis.
![Snow, Cross-Winds and Staffing Gaps Cause 562 Flight Delays at Paris-CDG and Orly]()
For international passengers caught in the shuffle, making sure visas and transit permits are squared away can buy valuable flexibility. VisaHQ’s streamlined portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) lets travellers secure or update French travel documents quickly, track their application status, and even arrange courier pickup—minimising paperwork headaches while airlines and airports work through operational snarls.
Business-travel managers should monitor real-time data, secure flexible hotel rates and keep rail alternatives on tap for domestic hops. Companies moving perishable cargo through CDG’s massive freight zone are advised to build at least 12-hour buffers into delivery windows.
The episode is also a stress-test for Paris ahead of the 2026 tourist surge linked to the Winter Olympics. ADP says it will accelerate the roll-out of additional de-icing pads and automated snow-clearance vehicles in Q1 2026 to avoid a repeat of this week’s chaos.
The disruption rippled across airline networks. Long-haul departures to New York, Dubai and Tokyo missed connecting banks, while European feeders on Air France, easyJet and SAS saw rotation plans shredded. Ground handlers struggled to clear snow from parking stands quickly enough, leading to aircraft and crew out-of-position problems.
Although French air-traffic controllers were not on strike, staffing levels were thin after a gruelling Christmas peak. ADP warned airlines that stand-availability and de-icing capacity remain tight through 1 January. In response, carriers have drafted reserve crews, but any new weather band could tip the system back into crisis.
For international passengers caught in the shuffle, making sure visas and transit permits are squared away can buy valuable flexibility. VisaHQ’s streamlined portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) lets travellers secure or update French travel documents quickly, track their application status, and even arrange courier pickup—minimising paperwork headaches while airlines and airports work through operational snarls.
Business-travel managers should monitor real-time data, secure flexible hotel rates and keep rail alternatives on tap for domestic hops. Companies moving perishable cargo through CDG’s massive freight zone are advised to build at least 12-hour buffers into delivery windows.
The episode is also a stress-test for Paris ahead of the 2026 tourist surge linked to the Winter Olympics. ADP says it will accelerate the roll-out of additional de-icing pads and automated snow-clearance vehicles in Q1 2026 to avoid a repeat of this week’s chaos.
