Severe winter weather caused widespread disruptions across Europe on Sunday, particularly impacting air travel in the United Kingdom and Germany.
In the UK, airports including Manchester, Liverpool, and Newcastle faced temporary runway closures due to heavy snow and ice. Manchester Airport, the third-largest in the country, shut its runways early in the morning but reopened around 9:45 a.m. after staff cleared the snow. Liverpool's John Lennon Airport also experienced a brief closure, with the runway reopening by 10:15 a.m. Newcastle International Airport warned of ongoing disruptions due to continuous snowfall, with teams working to ensure passenger safety.
Birmingham Airport was closed for several hours around midnight to clear snow but resumed operations later, thanks to the efforts of resilient staff. Meanwhile, Bristol Airport had to close on Saturday evening due to challenging weather conditions, with potential impacts on departing flights on Sunday.
Train services across England, Scotland, and Wales were also affected by the weather, with speed restrictions and line closures in place to ensure safety, as per National Rail's announcement. National Highways issued a severe weather alert, urging road users to take extra care throughout the weekend.
In Germany, snow and black ice, compounded by poor visibility, led to the cancellation of 120 flights at Frankfurt Airport, Germany's largest. The severe conditions caused significant disruptions, with 120 out of around 1,090 scheduled flights being cancelled.
The heavy snowfall across Europe prompted widespread warnings and advisories, as authorities continue to monitor and address the challenges posed by the adverse weather.
