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KLM Cancels 600 Flights at Schiphol as Storm Goretti and De‑Icer Shortage Bite

Short supplies of aircraft de‑icer at KLM reveal how a sustained freeze can choke a major hub.

Cars drive through a frozen forest in the Taunus region near Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A man rides a bike in an alley in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
People walk near the Eiffel Tower during a snowfall Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
A person skies along the Seine river banks after a snowfall, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Overview

  • KLM warned its aircraft de‑icing stocks are running low after around‑the‑clock use since Friday, consuming about 85,000 litres per day and facing delayed deliveries from its German supplier.
  • The airline dispatched staff to Germany to collect more fluid, but the supplier could not guarantee timely replenishment, prompting the pre‑emptive cancellation of roughly 600 flights on Wednesday.
  • Schiphol reported adequate runway de‑icer but limited air traffic, with at least 700 total flight cancellations announced for Wednesday and more than 1,000 passengers accommodated overnight with camp beds and breakfast.
  • French authorities ordered cuts of 40% at Paris Charles de Gaulle and 25% at Orly as heavy snow halted buses in the capital, while Brussels saw cancellations and delays due to de‑icing operations.
  • Flight‑tracking tallies show the sixth straight day of severe disruption, with thousands of flights scrubbed over the past week, and officials have reported multiple weather‑related deaths in Europe, including five in France and one in Bosnia.