Europe Winter Storm Disrupts Travel, Causes 5 Deaths

Severe winter weather battered much of Europe on Tuesday, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport and contributing to at least five deaths in France from snow-related accidents. The disruptions, driven by heavy snowfall, high winds and freezing temperatures, marked the sixth day of chaos at one of the continent's busiest aviation hubs and prompted authorities across the region to urge people to avoid unnecessary travel.

At Schiphol, airport operators ordered airlines to reduce flights by 70 percent on Wednesday, resulting in more than 600 cancellations, primarily affecting European routes. Dutch flag carrier KLM, which operates the majority of services there, announced the proactive cuts to provide passengers with advance notice and prevent last-minute strandings. The airline reported using 85,000 liters of de-icing fluid daily since January 2 but warned of shortages due to supply delays and relentless demand amid the extreme conditions. "We haven't experienced such extreme weather conditions in years," said KLM spokesperson Anoesjka Aspeslagh.

Ground crews worked around the clock to clear runways and de-ice aircraft, but persistent...