EUROPE:HEAVY SNOWFALLS have caused chaos throughout Europe, with large numbers of flights cancelled and major disruptions on roads and railways, with forecasters warning that it is not likely to improve significantly anywhere on the Continent by Christmas Day.
Heathrow airport was affected for the third day in a row, leading British transport secretary Philip Hammond to order a relaxation on the night-flying ban from the airport.
Outbound flights will now be allowed to leave until 1am, while inbound will be taken at any hour over the next four days.
In France, three-in-ten flights to all destinations were cancelled from the two largest airports in Paris, while the authorities banned HGV trucks and coaches from all roads in northern France and around Paris. Eurostar services to London have been badly affected.
Thousands of Eurostar passengers in both London and Paris were affected, with the company taking delayed passengers first on the trains that could get away, to the fury of those left behind. Speed restrictions are now in place.
Lines of delayed passengers trailed for several hundred metres outside London’s St Pancras international rail station despite freezing temperatures, with the company – which is turning away passengers with confirmed bookings — urging travellers to cancel or postpone journeys.
In Germany, hundreds of flights were affected, leading Frankfurt airport to put up 1,000 camp beds for stranded passengers and employ clowns and entertainers to keep children amused. German State Railways said many services have been hit by major delays. Refunds are being offered to encourage travellers to postpone their journeys.
In the Netherlands, Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport managed to get back to full services yesterday, following the cancellation of 100 flights on Saturday and 70 on Sunday. All long-distance flights took off, though some with minor delays. Unlike London, passengers who could not get a hotel bed from their airline were given camp beds, but only dozens took up the offer.
Flights connecting Spain with France, Germany, Italy and the UK were most affected by the weather during the early hours of yesterday morning.
Twenty-four flights to Germany were cancelled, 55 to France, four to Italy and 85 to the UK, showing that the major problems at Heathrow are now having an impact throughout the world as aircraft shortages in operating airports build up.
In the UK, thousands of part-time postal workers have been hired to help get letters and parcels delivered on time, though private postal companies have simply refused to guarantee delivery.
In Sweden, local newspapers reported a sharp rise in the numbers of thefts of snowblowers used to clear paths and driveways.
