Snow Chaos: 2,500 Flights Canceled at Amsterdam Airport

Severe winter weather has paralyzed Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, resulting in massive travel disruption for thousands of passengers. Since last Friday, more than 2,500 flights entering and leaving the Dutch capital have been canceled. The situation deteriorated significantly by Monday, with cancellation rates jumping from 28% to over half of all scheduled flights.

Travelers experienced extensive delays, with some aircraft remaining on the tarmac for hours. The airport serves as a major hub for transcontinental travelers, handling over 66 million passengers annually. As a result of the snowfall, inbound flights were diverted to various European cities, while departing flights faced queues for de-icing procedures. Airport officials have stated that limited flight operations are currently possible as they monitor the weather situation closely.

Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport has experienced the highest number of cancellations globally over the past few days due to snow disrupting travel in the Netherlands. Data from FlightAware indicates that more than 2,500 flights were canceled between last Friday and Tuesday morning. By Monday, the disruption peaked, with the cancellation rate rising from 28% to over half of all scheduled flights.

The airport is the fourth-busiest in Europe, handling over 66 million passengers a year, and serves as a critical hub for transcontinental travelers. The severe weather conditions have not only affected departures but also arrivals, forcing many planes to divert to alternative airports.

Flight-tracking data revealed significant chaos on the tarmac on Monday. One notable incident involved a KLM flight destined for London. The aircraft departed the gate at 9 a.m. but taxied around the airport twice, eventually returning to the gate after nearly two and a half hours without taking off.

Another flight, an Emirates Airbus A380, spent three hours on the tarmac after landing before it could move to its assigned gate. It eventually departed for Dubai seven hours behind schedule. During the peak of the weather on Monday morning, incoming flights were diverted for about an hour.

Flights that were diverted included:

• An Air Canada flight diverted to Frankfurt, Germany
• Two KLM flights from South America that landed in Paris
• A Garuda Indonesia flight from Jakarta that ended up in Brussels

Even flights that were able to depart from Schiphol faced average delays of almost two hours. A major contributing factor is the de-icing process required due to freezing temperatures. Taking off with ice on wings can cause a dangerous loss of control, necessitating strict safety protocols.

KLM operates four de-icing locations at Schiphol, which are currently at maximum capacity. The process takes approximately 30 minutes per aircraft, contributing significantly to the backlog of departing flights. A KLM spokesperson noted that the winter conditions are expected to continue in the coming days.

As of Tuesday morning, the airport continues to grapple with the aftermath of the snowfall. A Schiphol spokesperson confirmed that the airport is continuing to monitor the weather situation closely. However, they noted that only limited flight operations are possible at present.

With winter conditions expected to persist, travelers are advised to remain vigilant regarding flight status updates. The combination of weather conditions and the high volume of passengers at the Dutch capital's main airport suggests that the ripple effects of these cancellations may continue for several days.