Big freeze causes travel chaos across western Europe

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete January 7, 2026 at 04:50 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Freezing weather with heavy snow and ice has caused widespread travel disruption across western Europe. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled at major airports including Amsterdam's Schiphol and Paris' Charles de Gaulle, with airlines asked to reduce flights. Eurostar services and road haulage have also been affected, with lorries banned in some areas of France. At least six weather-related deaths have been reported in France and Bosnia this week. Schiphol Airport faced a shortage of de-icing fluid, leaving over 1,000 travelers stranded overnight. The disruption is expected to continue, with further delays and cancellations anticipated in the coming days.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Heathrow 40% Orly 40% Brussels 40% Stephan Donker ×240% Reuters 40% Charles de Gaulle airport 50% Amsterdam 50% Eurostar ×260% KLM 60% Paris ×470% France ×370% Schiphol Airport ×380%

Keywords

freezing weather 90% flight cancellations 80% travel disruption 80% heavy snowfall 70% weather-related incidents 60% ice 60% de-icing fluid 50% eurostar 50% transport hub 40% black ice 40%