Winter storm prompts flight cuts at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports

A winter storm on 15 February 2026 led France’s Civil Aviation Authority to cut flights at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. About one‑third of Charles de Gaulle services between 07:00–16:00 and one‑fifth at Orly between 06:00–14:00 were canceled. Short‑ and medium‑haul routes were most affected as extended de‑icing added 20–40 minutes to turnarounds. An orange alert was issued for Île‑de‑France, and early cancellations hit links with Nice, Toulouse, and Lyon. Rerouting or refunds apply under EC 261/2004, though compensation is not guaranteed due to extraordinary weather circumstances.

A rapid winter storm over northern France on 15 February 2026 led the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) to order substantial flight reductions at Paris’s two main airports. At Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), approximately one‑third of flights scheduled between 07:00 and 16:00 were canceled. At Paris Orly Airport (ORY), roughly one‑fifth of services planned between 06:00 and 14:00 were canceled. The measures focused largely on short‑ and medium‑haul operations.

Authorities acted to ease apron congestion caused by prolonged de‑icing procedures. De‑icing added around 20 to 40 minutes to aircraft turnaround times, contributing to operational delays and prompting cancellations to stabilize schedules.

Météo‑France issued an orange alert for Île‑de‑France, citing snow and ice accumulations of 1–3 cm and up to 5 cm in areas including Yvelines and Seine‑et‑Marne. The adverse weather affected travel beyond the airports. Early cancellations were reported on connections between Paris and cities such as Nice, Toulouse, and Lyon. On roads, regional authorities reduced motorway speed limits and temporarily banned overtaking by heavy goods vehicles. Long‑distance rail services operated, with advisories about possible disruptions to suburban buses and local trams.

Passengers affected by cancellations are protected under EU Regulation 261/2004, which says they must be offered options for rerouting or refunds. Because the cause was adverse weather classified as “extraordinary circumstances,” financial compensation cannot be guaranteed.

Airport operator Groupe ADP indicated that preventive steps taken during the storm should help avoid a repeat of more extensive disruption seen earlier in the year. Forecasts later in the day pointed to rising temperatures and rain, which were expected to melt remaining snow and support a gradual return to normal operations through the night.