A rare January snowstorm—named Storm Goretti by Météo-France—swept across the Paris region overnight, forcing the Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) to order drastic capacity cuts at the capital’s two main hubs. Between 06:00 and 12:00 on 7 January, airlines had to cancel 40 % of movements at Charles-de-Gaulle (CDG) and 25 % at Orly (ORY).
Air France scrapped close to 200 short- and medium-haul flights but kept its entire long-haul programme intact by consolidating feeder services and up-gauge aircraft. Low-cost carriers Transavia France and easyJet pre-emptively grounded dozens of rotations to Mediterranean and domestic leisure destinations, re-booking passengers through their apps.
![Paris Airports Slash Morning Flights as Snowstorm Goretti Hits Île-de-France]()
Under EU 261, airlines must offer duty-of-care—including meals and hotel accommodation—for delays exceeding two hours. DGAC reminded carriers that the weather exemption applies only to compensation, not to assistance, and warned business-class lounges were already at capacity by 08:00.
Corporate travel managers were urged to move meetings online or route executives through provincial airports such as Lyon or Toulouse, where runway conditions remained within limits. Eurostar reported a surge in last-minute bookings as travellers switched from air to rail, although snow on the northern approach into Paris Nord caused 30-minute delays.
With further flurries forecast into the evening, DGAC signalled it could extend flight-caps into the night-wave. Mobility teams should monitor real-time NOTAMs, advise assignees to arrive at airports at least four hours before departure, and remind staff of flexible-working policies during severe-weather events.
Air France scrapped close to 200 short- and medium-haul flights but kept its entire long-haul programme intact by consolidating feeder services and up-gauge aircraft. Low-cost carriers Transavia France and easyJet pre-emptively grounded dozens of rotations to Mediterranean and domestic leisure destinations, re-booking passengers through their apps.
Under EU 261, airlines must offer duty-of-care—including meals and hotel accommodation—for delays exceeding two hours. DGAC reminded carriers that the weather exemption applies only to compensation, not to assistance, and warned business-class lounges were already at capacity by 08:00.
Corporate travel managers were urged to move meetings online or route executives through provincial airports such as Lyon or Toulouse, where runway conditions remained within limits. Eurostar reported a surge in last-minute bookings as travellers switched from air to rail, although snow on the northern approach into Paris Nord caused 30-minute delays.
With further flurries forecast into the evening, DGAC signalled it could extend flight-caps into the night-wave. Mobility teams should monitor real-time NOTAMs, advise assignees to arrive at airports at least four hours before departure, and remind staff of flexible-working policies during severe-weather events.
Source: LoyaltyLobby / DGAC notice
