Snowstorms and strong winds are causing significant disruptions to air and rail services in various parts of the Europe Continent, leading to transportation chaos in Central Europe for the second consecutive day. Affected countries this weekend include the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, and southern Germany.
Munich Airport experienced a complete suspension of all flights on Saturday, resuming only on Sunday morning with ongoing operational restrictions and a notable reduction in flight schedules. The airport’s website stated that predicting the situation’s development in the coming days remains uncertain.
FlightAware, a flight tracking website, reported that on Sunday, Munich Airport canceled 59% of scheduled flights and delayed 22%. Similarly, Amsterdam Schiphol, one of Europe’s busiest airports, witnessed 25% of canceled flights and 61% experiencing delays.
Train services to and from Munich resumed limited operations on Sunday after a complete shutdown on Saturday. Some passengers in Munich and Ulm were reportedly compelled to spend Friday night aboard trains due to the shutdown, as per the German press agency DPA.
Local transit authorities informed AP News that weather-related issues impacted regional trains and subways, with no trams or buses operating on Saturday. Germany’s national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, informed Bloomberg that rail travel might be affected through Monday, with only a very limited train service expected even after the affected routes resume operations.
Major airports in the region experienced high percentages of flight delays on Sunday, with relatively low cancellation rates. In Berlin, 5% were canceled and 56% delayed; in Frankfurt, Germany’s busiest hub, 3% were canceled and 74% delayed; and in Zurich, 4% were canceled, and 72% experienced delays.
Austria and Switzerland issued avalanche alerts on Saturday due to snowfall, with Tyrol and Vorarlberg provinces in western Austria elevating alerts to the second-highest level. Austrian railway company OeBB reported route closures across the country due to extreme winter weather.
In the Czech Republic, major roads, including a highway, were at a standstill on Saturday, impacting train services, public transportation, and leaving over 15,000 households without power. In the southern region, high-speed and regional train routes were halted, with cross-border rail operations suspended, affecting travel between the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany.
