Severe snowfall disrupted parts of Europe on Sunday, significantly affecting air travel in both the United Kingdom and Germany.
Several airports across the UK were forced to close runways due to heavy snow and icy conditions. According to the UK Met Office, extensive snow and ice warnings were in place across Northern Ireland, much of Scotland, and large sections of central and northern England. Almost all of Wales was also under a yellow rain alert.
Manchester Airport, the UK’s third largest by passenger volume, temporarily closed its runways on Sunday morning because of heavy snow. Airport staff worked to clear the snow, allowing operations to resume by 9:45 a.m., according to a social media update.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport faced a similar situation, briefly shutting down its runway before reopening it at 10:15 a.m. Meanwhile, Newcastle International Airport reported “heavy and continuous snowfall,” which caused significant disruption to its flight schedule. Staff at the airport were working diligently to ensure safety for both passengers and employees.
Birmingham Airport also experienced temporary closure around midnight to allow snow-clearing operations. Thanks to resilient teams working through the night, the airport reopened later on Sunday. In the west of England, Bristol Airport, which closed on Saturday due to difficult weather conditions, reopened later that evening but warned travelers of potential delays to Sunday’s departures.
Train services across England, Scotland, and Wales were also impacted by the severe weather. The UK’s National Rail issued a statement on Sunday morning, warning passengers about potential speed restrictions and line closures, which were necessary to ensure safety.
National Highways, the agency responsible for major roads in England, issued a severe weather alert for snow over the weekend. It advised road users to exercise extra caution when traveling.
In Germany, snow, black ice, and poor visibility resulted in dozens of flight cancellations at Frankfurt Airport, the country’s busiest aviation hub. According to the Associated Press, 120 flights out of approximately 1,090 scheduled departures were canceled.
At Munich Airport, only one runway remained operational due to the heavy snowfall. Germany’s meteorological office issued a warning about freezing rain and advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel on Sunday. Photo by Alexander Klink, Wikimedia commons.
