Significant disruptions are expected on Wednesday due to a new snow episode in France with numerous flight cancellations. The government "strongly advised" to avoid all road travel on Wednesday in Ile-de-France and imposed restrictions on the movement of heavy goods vehicles there, as well as in the west of France.
Published on: 01/06/2026 - 5:59 p.m.
Travelers will have to be patient as a new snowy episode is expected to hit France on Wednesday January 7.
Flight cancellations are already planned for Wednesday morning in Paris airports, Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot announced on Tuesday. These cancellations, made necessary by runway snow removal and aircraft de-icing operations, will concern approximately 40% of movements planned between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, the first French airport, and 25% between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Orly, the second, Philippe Tabarot said during a press conference.
During the first snowfall on Monday afternoon, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) asked companies to give up 15% of their flights in the two major airports serving the capital.
“We give the flight restriction volumes and the companies organize their program” according to this instruction, explained Chems Chkioua, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGAC), during the minister's press briefing.
Tuesday morning, the flight schedule at Paris airports ran almost normally, but the snow had fallen the day before. “Tomorrow, it will snow (in the) morning, during the peak” of traffic, he explained.
Road travel not recommended in Ile-de-France
The Minister of Transport also "strongly advised" to avoid all road travel on Wednesday in Ile-de-France and announced the ban on the circulation of heavy goods vehicles in the west of France and in Ile-de-France, where the maximum speed of light vehicles is also lowered to 70 km/h.
Airlines will also have to cancel part of their flights scheduled for Wednesday morning in Paris airports.
Interministerial crisis unit
“Given the importance of the snow and ice episode announced”, the Ministry of the Interior announced the activation of the interministerial crisis unit from Tuesday, 5 p.m.
It is chaired by the Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez, in the presence of the Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot and the Minister of Health Stéphanie Rist, according to Place Beauvau.
This system “coordinates all operational centers, those of the ministry as well as those reporting to other ministries”, explains the Interior on its website.
Bad weather caused at least five deaths on the roads of France on Tuesday.
Météo-France has placed 38 departments in mainland France on orange alert for snow and ice for part of the night and all day on Wednesday, compared to 26 departments for Tuesday.
Orange vigilance is the second highest level, asking the population to be very attentive because dangerous phenomena are expected.
With AFP
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