On Sunday, February 15, 2026, severe winter weather significantly impacted flight operations at Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris-Orly (ORY) airports, located in the Île-de-France region. Heavy snowfall, frost, icing risks, and sub-zero temperatures created challenging conditions for aviation.
In response to the inclement weather, France’s Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) implemented pre-emptive capacity reductions to ensure operational safety and enable effective de-icing and runway clearance. The decision aimed to alleviate the burden on air traffic control amid the adverse meteorological conditions.
The DGAC issued directives on Saturday, February 14, 2026, mandating airlines to implement scheduled reductions through Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and official communications. The restrictions included a 30% reduction in flights at CDG from 0700 to 1600 local time, and a 20% reduction at ORY from 0600 to 1400 local time. These measures were tougher than the 15% reductions enforced during prior snow events earlier in January 2026. The focus was on prioritizing long-haul and essential services while predicting snow accumulation of 1 to 5 cm, along with freezing rain and reduced visibility.
According to flight tracking data, the operational impact was significant. CDG experienced numerous cancellations and delays, particularly affecting short and medium-haul services, while ORY saw fewer cancellations but considerable delays primarily affecting regional carriers. Overall, hundreds of flights were disrupted across both airports, with approximately 196 cancellations reported across France. Major airlines impacted included the Air France-KLM Group, easyJet, and various low-cost operators.
The disruptions at Paris airports were part of a broader European weather system that affected air travel across multiple major hubs. On the same day, aggregated data indicated that 733 flights were canceled and 5,092 delays occurred across Europe, largely driven by snow and ice in countries such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, and Greece. Key hubs like Amsterdam Schiphol and London Heathrow also faced capacity constraints due to the severe weather, highlighting the interconnected nature of the European aviation network.
By late Sunday evening, the worst of the disruption had receded, and no further DGAC capacity restrictions were imposed. Airport operators focused on clearing runways and resuming de-icing processes, with efforts made to return operations to normalcy. While some residual delays persisted into the following morning, signs of stabilization in operations were evident. French authorities shifted their attention to recovering surface transport, although orange-level weather alerts remained in effect in certain areas.
Travelers are advised to stay updated on their airline’s status through official websites, flight-tracking platforms, and to consider securing travel insurance for weather-related contingencies.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of coordinated regulatory interventions, enabling airport managers to maintain safety standards and limit widespread disruptions across the aviation network, ensuring a more resilient response in the face of challenging weather events.