A fresh band of Arctic weather swept across Western Europe overnight, triggering a domino-effect of delays and cancellations that paralysed air traffic on 16 January 2026. By mid-afternoon, flight-tracking platform Cirium had logged almost 900 delays and 67 outright cancellations, with Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) and Paris-Orly (ORY) accounting for roughly one-quarter of the disruptions.
At CDG, runway capacity was cut by 30 % as snow-clearance teams raced to stay ahead of recurring squalls and stubborn ice patches. Aircraft queued for de-icing stretched to remote stands, forcing Air France to waive rebooking fees on all European sectors. Low-cost carriers easyJet and Vueling pre-emptively scrubbed more than 40 rotations, citing crewing-hour limits and dwindling slot availability. Orly—whose shorter main runway and tighter parking geometry make it more vulnerable to snow—cancelled another 28 flights and imposed rolling flow-rate restrictions that slowed inbound traffic to one movement every three minutes.
The knock-on effects rippled through connecting itineraries: long-haul passengers arriving from Asia and North America missed onward flights to African and Mediterranean destinations, while regional jets bound for the French provinces were unable to secure replacement slots. Business-travel management companies (TMCs) reported a surge in after-hours calls as corporate travellers scrambled for hotel rooms and alternative routings via Frankfurt or Barcelona.
![Winter Storms Ground Flights: Paris-CDG and Orly Among Europe’s Hardest-Hit Hubs]()
During such disruption-driven itinerary changes, travellers may find themselves rerouted through countries they hadn’t planned to enter; if a sudden Frankfurt or Barcelona connection requires an unexpected transit or short-stay visa, VisaHQ’s online platform can secure the necessary documentation in as little as 24 hours, sparing passengers another layer of stress (https://www.visahq.com/france/).
Beyond aviation, the storm put additional strain on Europe’s transport grid. SNCF reduced TGV speeds south of Paris because of drifting snow, Eurostar arrivals from London ran up to 35 minutes late, and the A1 motorway north of the capital closed intermittently for snow-plough convoys. Meteorologists warn that a secondary low could push across the Channel tonight, prolonging operational headaches well into the weekend.
For mobility managers, the episode underlines three lessons: build larger weather buffers into January travel, remind staff of their EC 261 rights to meals and accommodation, and maintain live feeds from multiple airports, not just the departure hub. Airlines are expected to restore near-normal schedules within 24–36 hours, but recovery crewing may remain fragile until the current cold snap eases.
At CDG, runway capacity was cut by 30 % as snow-clearance teams raced to stay ahead of recurring squalls and stubborn ice patches. Aircraft queued for de-icing stretched to remote stands, forcing Air France to waive rebooking fees on all European sectors. Low-cost carriers easyJet and Vueling pre-emptively scrubbed more than 40 rotations, citing crewing-hour limits and dwindling slot availability. Orly—whose shorter main runway and tighter parking geometry make it more vulnerable to snow—cancelled another 28 flights and imposed rolling flow-rate restrictions that slowed inbound traffic to one movement every three minutes.
The knock-on effects rippled through connecting itineraries: long-haul passengers arriving from Asia and North America missed onward flights to African and Mediterranean destinations, while regional jets bound for the French provinces were unable to secure replacement slots. Business-travel management companies (TMCs) reported a surge in after-hours calls as corporate travellers scrambled for hotel rooms and alternative routings via Frankfurt or Barcelona.
During such disruption-driven itinerary changes, travellers may find themselves rerouted through countries they hadn’t planned to enter; if a sudden Frankfurt or Barcelona connection requires an unexpected transit or short-stay visa, VisaHQ’s online platform can secure the necessary documentation in as little as 24 hours, sparing passengers another layer of stress (https://www.visahq.com/france/).
Beyond aviation, the storm put additional strain on Europe’s transport grid. SNCF reduced TGV speeds south of Paris because of drifting snow, Eurostar arrivals from London ran up to 35 minutes late, and the A1 motorway north of the capital closed intermittently for snow-plough convoys. Meteorologists warn that a secondary low could push across the Channel tonight, prolonging operational headaches well into the weekend.
For mobility managers, the episode underlines three lessons: build larger weather buffers into January travel, remind staff of their EC 261 rights to meals and accommodation, and maintain live feeds from multiple airports, not just the departure hub. Airlines are expected to restore near-normal schedules within 24–36 hours, but recovery crewing may remain fragile until the current cold snap eases.
