Amsterdam airport crippled by winter storms as hundreds of KLM and Air France flights cancelled

A severe winter storm has crippled Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, forcing KLM to cancel around 400 flights on 6 January and delaying nearly a third of its departures. Air France has also faced major disruptions.

KLM urged passengers not to travel to the airport if their flight was cancelled, warning that snow and high winds have seriously affected both flight and ground operations. Forecasts suggest these conditions may last for several more days.

The airline said it is “working around the clock” to rebook passengers but admitted that limited seat availability and crew scheduling make the process slow. Many stranded travellers report not receiving hotel vouchers or accommodation.

On 7 January, Schiphol expects “very limited operations”, with over 600 flights already cancelled—mostly short-haul routes within Europe. Disruptions are also expected on KLM flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle from 6 to 8 January.

The chaos at one of Europe’s key hubs has affected connecting passengers from across the continent, including those travelling from Poland.