Published on
January 9, 2026
Hundreds of passengers stranded in The Netherlands as Amsterdam Schiphol (324 cancellations, 131 delays), London Heathrow (13 cancellations), Zurich Airport (10 cancellations), Paris Charles de Gaulle (8 cancellations, 3 delays), Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas (7 cancellations, 2 delays), Barcelona–El Prat (7 cancellations) and more faced 613 flights cancellations and 245 delays.
On the airline side, disruption was heaviest at KLM (428 cancellations, 90 delays), Air France (33 cancellations, 1 delay), German Airways (25 cancellations, 3 delays), easyJet (12 cancellations, 17 delays), British Airways (11 cancellations, 1 delay), and Transavia Airlines (10 cancellations, 23 delays). Other popular airlines that also faced disruptions include Delta Air Lines (7 cancellations, 7 delays), Lufthansa (1 cancellation, 1 delay), Emirates (4 delays), Qatar Airways (5 delays), American Airlines (1 delay), and Air India (2 delays).
Schiphol Airport’s disruptions have intensified as Storm Goretti pushed across Europe, bringing heavy snow, driving rain, and strong winds that forced airlines to preemptively cancel dozens of flights on Friday. With snowfall expected to reach the airport by late afternoon, carriers moved to curtail arrivals and departures to manage worsening conditions. As Storm Goretti has persisted for several days, the severe winter system has already been linked to more than 3,500 flight cancellations at Schiphol, highlighting its sustained impact on airport operations.
SummaryUpdated today: Amsterdam Schiphol alone accounted for over 50% of all flight cancellations in The Netherlands, confirming it as the epicenter of the disruption.KLM is the single largest cancellation driver, with 428 cancelled flights.Multiple European airports including London, Paris, Zurich, Madrid, and Barcelona reported knock-on cancellations.Several long-haul airlines avoided cancellations but still reported delays, especially on Middle East and Asia routes.Most Affected AirportsAmsterdam Schiphol Airport
The Dutch hub saw 324 cancellations and 131 delays, impacting both short-haul European services and long-haul intercontinental routes.
London Heathrow Airport
Heathrow recorded 13 cancellations, reflecting disruption on key UK–Netherlands corridors despite no reported delays.
Zurich Airport
Zurich logged 10 cancellations and 1 delay, mainly affecting European feeder services.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
CDG experienced 8 cancellations and 3 delays, with Air France and partner carriers impacted.
Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport
Madrid posted 7 cancellations and 2 delays, disrupting Iberian and connecting European traffic.
Airlines Most Affected by Flight Cancellations and DelaysKLM
KLM dominated the disruption with 428 cancellations and 90 delays, severely affecting its hub-and-spoke operations at AMS.
Air France
Air France reported 33 cancellations with limited delays, largely tied to short-haul European services.
German Airways
The carrier faced 25 cancellations and 3 delays, indicating widespread operational disruption.
easyJet
easyJet recorded 12 cancellations and 17 delays, impacting popular leisure routes.
British Airways
British Airways saw 11 cancellations and 1 delay, primarily on UK–Netherlands services.
Financial Impact on Airlines
Airlines affected by widespread cancellations and delays typically face higher short-term operating costs, driven by aircraft ground time, crew rescheduling, and additional passenger care obligations. Disruptions can also lead to lost ticket revenue, particularly on high-frequency short-haul routes, while delayed long-haul operations may strain fuel and logistics budgets. Carriers may also experience increased compensation liabilities under passenger protection regulations, alongside indirect financial pressure from disrupted network efficiency and reduced aircraft utilization.
How Passengers Were Impacted At Major AirportsExpect missed connections and longer rebooking times at hub airports.Passengers should monitor airline alerts and airport departure boards frequently.Rebooking demand may lead to fare increases and limited seat availability.Travelers are advised to check compensation and care rights under EU regulations.Overview of Flight Cancellations
Flight cancellations were concentrated among major European carriers, led by KLM, followed by Air France, easyJet, British Airways, Transavia Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Popular airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, American Airlines, and Air India avoided outright cancellations but still experienced delays. On the airport side, Amsterdam Schiphol remained the most affected, with repeated knock-on impacts at London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Zurich, Madrid–Barajas, and Barcelona–El Prat, highlighting how disruption at a single major hub can cascade across Europe and into long-haul networks.
Image Source: AI
Source: Different airports and FlightAware
