Air travel across Europe has been plunged into chaos as a severe winter weather front brings heavy snowfall and extreme cold, leading to the cancellation of more than a hundred flights at a major continental hub.
Frankfurt Airport Grounds Flights
On Monday, 12 January 2026, Frankfurt Airport was forced to cancel 102 out of 1,052 scheduled flights. The airport's operator, Fraport, warned that the number of impacted services is likely to increase throughout the day. Disruptions are currently anticipated to last until at least noon local time (1100 GMT).
The primary cause is heavy snowfall and treacherous icy conditions, which have made runway operations and aircraft de-icing exceptionally difficult. This incident follows a week of similar travel misery across northern Europe.
Arctic Conditions Grip Finland
Further north, the situation is even more extreme. In Finnish Lapland, thousands of tourists were left stranded over the weekend as temperatures plummeted to a bone-chilling minus 37 degrees Celsius at Kittilä Airport.
Finland's national broadcaster Yle reported that the deep freeze, which has persisted for several days, has severely hampered airport operations. The Finnish Meteorological Institute forecasts that the mercury could drop to nearly minus 40C in Kittilä on Monday, prolonging the travel standstill.
Widespread Transport Disruption Across Europe
The icy blast is not confined to airports. The severe conditions are causing significant knock-on effects for road and rail networks across the continent.
In Germany, rail operator Deutsche Bahn is still dealing with extensive delays and cancellations after it was compelled to shut down all services in the north of the country on Friday. Authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, have taken the precaution of closing all schools on Monday, moving classes online due to forecasts of dangerously icy roads.
The Baltic states are also on high alert. Estonia and Lithuania have advised drivers to postpone all non-essential travel due to expected blizzards, while Latvia has issued an official snow alert for its western regions.
This latest wave of disruption echoes problems seen just days earlier at another major European hub. Last Wednesday, Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport had to cancel at least 800 flights. The airport set up hundreds of makeshift beds and served breakfast to over 1,000 stranded passengers as staff worked tirelessly to clear runways.
While Europeans are accustomed to frosty winters, the current cold snap affecting northern, central, and eastern regions is noted for its unusual severity, combining heavy snow, high winds, and ice to create a perfect storm for travel chaos.
