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28 March 2024

Geneva airport reopens after snow forced shutdown

Photo: AFP

Published
By AFP

Geneva airport has reopened after heavy snowfall lashing Europe forced it to suspend all traffic earlier Thursday, but the extreme weather was expected to continue causing widespread travel disruptions.

"GeneveAeroport is now open to traffic (Arrivals and Departures)!" said a statement posted on the airport's official Twitter account.

"Delays and cancellations are expected throughout the day", it added.

The Swiss city woke up this morning blanketed in snow, causing major delays on roads and public transport.

All airport traffic was suspended from around 8:00 am (0700 GMT).

The disruptions in Geneva came as fresh heavy snowfalls and icy blizzards hit much of Europe as the region shivered in a deadly deep-freeze that has gripped countries from the far north to the Mediterranean south.

Switzerland has in recent days seen temperatures plunge to nearly minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 38 Fahrenheit) at higher altitudes.

At Switzerland's other main airport, Zurich, air traffic was not heavily impacted by the weather conditions, although there were some delays Thursday morning, Swiss public broadcaster RTS reported.

Ice meanwhile led to a number of accidents on Swiss motorways Thursday, while the country's famed rail system was also impacted.

The Neuchatel train station near the French border was closed to traffic, while delays were expected on a number of lines across the country, RTS reported.

Heavy snow forces Geneva airport to suspend all flgihts

The heavy snowfall lashing Europe forced Geneva airport to suspend all air traffic Thursday, while trains in Switzerland were also facing delays.

"Because of the prevailing weather conditions, Geneva Airport is currently closed to air traffic until further notice," the airport said on its website.

"We therefore advise passengers not to come to the airport for the time being," it said, recommending instead that "passengers check with their airline to see if their flight is still scheduled for departure."

The news came as fresh heavy snowfalls and icy blizzards lashed much of Europe Thursday as the region shivers in a deadly deep-freeze that has gripped countries from the far north to the Mediterranean south.

Switzerland has in recent days seen temperatures plunge to nearly -40 degrees Celsius at higher altitudes.

At Switzerland's other main airport, Zurich, air traffic did not appear to have been heavily impacted by the weather conditions, although there were some delays Thursday morning, Swiss public broadcaster RTS reported.

Ice meanwhile led to a number of accidents on Swiss motorways Thursday, while the country's famed rail system was impacted.

The Neuchatel train station was closed to traffic, while delays were expected on a number of lines across the country, RTS reported.