Severe winter weather has caused major disruption at one of the UK's key transport hubs, with Birmingham Airport brought to a complete halt by heavy snowfall on Thursday, 8 January 2026.
Runway Closure Sparks Travel Chaos
The airport was forced to suspend all runway operations due to the dangerous conditions, leaving an estimated 1,000 travellers stranded inside the terminal. Departing flights faced extensive delays, with some passengers waiting for up to five hours. The airport confirmed the suspension was a safety decision, prioritising the wellbeing of customers and staff.
Flights Diverted Across the Country
The adverse conditions triggered a cascade of disruptions across the flight schedule. An inbound Air India service from Amritsar was unable to land and had to divert to London Heathrow. This was followed by five further arrivals being rerouted to Manchester Airport, including Jet2 flights coming from Antalya and Gran Canaria.
In another incident, a Ryanair flight originating from Barcelona was forced to land at East Midlands Airport. Alongside the diversions, a significant number of flights were cancelled outright. Affected services included Air France from Paris, KLM from Amsterdam, and an easyJet flight from Edinburgh.
Airport Advice for Passengers
In an official statement, a spokesperson for Birmingham Airport said: "Due to heavy snow runway operations have been suspended. Passengers due to travel should contact their airline regarding the status of flights. The safety of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority and this decision has been made with this in mind. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."
The incident occurred as the wider UK was hit by a powerful winter storm, dubbed Storm Goretti, which brought high winds and significant snowfall to many regions. Passengers are being urged to check directly with their airline for the latest information before travelling to the airport.
