Hundreds slept in airports as they waited for cancelled flights to be rescheduled
The EU has heavily criticised European airports for failing to deal with recent freezing weather, which has left thousands of travellers stranded.
European transport commissioner Siim Kallas urged airports to “get serious” about planning, and labelled them a “weak link” in the infrastructure.
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled in recent days, as snow and ice have disrupted travel across Europe.
London’s Heathrow has been the one of the hardest-hit airports.
Mr Kallas said in a statement that airports in western Europe needed to learn from their counterparts in northern Europe.
“In recent days, I have become increasingly concerned about the problems relating to the infrastructure available to airlines – airports and ground handling – during this severe period of snow,” he said.
“It seems at this stage that this is a ‘weak link’ in a chain which, under pressure, is contributing to severe disruption.”
He said he intended to meet airport officials from around Europe to take a “hard look” at how they can operate more effectively in the future.
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