Winter Storms and Snow Blanket Transatlantic Hubs, Disrupting Flights

A wave of severe winter weather is causing significant travel headaches across North America and Europe this Wednesday. Air Canada has issued a comprehensive travel outlook for January 7, 2026, warning that flights through Ottawa, Paris (CDG), Amsterdam, and Brussels are heavily impacted by forecast snow and ice.

The airline has proactively revised its ticketing policy, allowing passengers to change their bookings without penalty. This move is designed to prevent massive "gate huddles" and provide flexibility for those caught in the de-icing delays that are currently plaguing major transatlantic corridors.

In the United Kingdom, "Sunshine Saturday" may have sparked a booking surge, but the reality on the ground today is one of blizzard-force winds in some northern regions.

Heathrow and Gatwick are maintaining operations but warn that "knock-on effects" from European snow delays are inevitable. Travel experts are advising all passengers to check their flight status via mobile apps before leaving for the airport and to ensure they have adequate travel insurance to cover potential overnight stays caused by these seasonal weather disruptions.