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| Image: AI Generated |
Amsterdam, January 7 - Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, one of Europe's busiest hubs, has faced severe disruptions due to prolonged winter weather, culminating in a critical shortage of aircraft de-icing fluid managed by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Persistent snowfall, sleet, and freezing temperatures since early January 2026 have necessitated round-the-clock de-icing operations, straining resources at the Amsterdam airport. KLM, the primary operator at Schiphol and responsible for de-icing most aircraft there, reported that its stocks of the essential glycol-based fluid were running critically low, threatening further flight delays and cancellations.
The crisis intensified as KLM's 25 specialized de-icing trucks operated continuously, consuming approximately 85,000 liters of the heated water and glycol mixture daily to ensure aircraft were free of ice before departure, a mandatory safety requirement. This high demand, combined with supply chain delays from the airline's German provider, led to dwindling reserves despite daily deliveries. Over the past five days, these conditions contributed to thousands of flight cancellations across Schiphol, with KLM alone scrapping hundreds of services, severely impacting passengers traveling to and from Amsterdam during the winter season.
In response, KLM took proactive measures by dispatching employees to Germany to collect additional de-icing fluid directly, aiming to avert a complete depletion that could halt departures entirely. While the airport maintained sufficient supplies of a separate fluid for runway clearing, the aircraft-specific shortage highlighted vulnerabilities in winter operations at Schiphol. The airline emphasized its commitment to passenger safety, noting that every plane must be thoroughly de-iced to prevent hazards during takeoff in icy conditions.
As severe weather persisted into the week, with forecasts predicting more snow and winds, the situation underscored the challenges of managing extreme winter disruptions at major European airports like Amsterdam Schiphol. KLM continued efforts to restore normal operations, securing new supplies to mitigate the de-icing fluid shortage and resume full flight schedules for affected travelers.