A second Arctic front dubbed ‘Storm Goretti’ barrelled across Western Europe on 7 January, grounding more than 600 flights at Amsterdam Schiphol and triggering emergency flight-cuts at Paris-CDG and Orly. Brussels Airport escaped the worst of the snowfall but still cancelled dozens of services and placed suppliers on alert for a potential shortfall of Type I and Type IV de-icing fluids after KLM signalled dwindling stocks in the Netherlands. (reuters.com)
France temporarily banned trucks and school buses from northern roads, while Dutch authorities urged residents to work from home. In Belgium, the Federal Mobility Ministry activated its national crisis cell, allowing regional airports and highway agencies to pool salt and glycol reserves. Logistics firm Lineas warned of knock-on delays for cross-border rail freight to the Port of Antwerp, heightening concerns for just-in-time supply chains serving automotive plants in Flanders. (reuters.com)
![Storm Goretti sweeps Western Europe; Brussels Airport warns of possible de-icing-fluid shortages]()
For multinational companies whose executives hop between EU capitals, the simultaneous disruption at multiple hubs is more damaging than a localised event. Travel-management companies are advising itinerary triage: critical missions should be routed via hubs south of the weather belt—Madrid, Milan or Zurich—while non-essential trips are postponed. (inkl.com)
The episode underscores a systemic risk: Europe’s de-icing supply chain is surprisingly thin. Only four major glycol producers serve the continent, and distribution is concentrated in the Netherlands and Germany. After last winter’s shortages, Brussels Airport increased on-site tank capacity by 20 %, but industry insiders say a week-long cold wave could still exhaust reserves. (reuters.com)
France temporarily banned trucks and school buses from northern roads, while Dutch authorities urged residents to work from home. In Belgium, the Federal Mobility Ministry activated its national crisis cell, allowing regional airports and highway agencies to pool salt and glycol reserves. Logistics firm Lineas warned of knock-on delays for cross-border rail freight to the Port of Antwerp, heightening concerns for just-in-time supply chains serving automotive plants in Flanders. (reuters.com)
For multinational companies whose executives hop between EU capitals, the simultaneous disruption at multiple hubs is more damaging than a localised event. Travel-management companies are advising itinerary triage: critical missions should be routed via hubs south of the weather belt—Madrid, Milan or Zurich—while non-essential trips are postponed. (inkl.com)
The episode underscores a systemic risk: Europe’s de-icing supply chain is surprisingly thin. Only four major glycol producers serve the continent, and distribution is concentrated in the Netherlands and Germany. After last winter’s shortages, Brussels Airport increased on-site tank capacity by 20 %, but industry insiders say a week-long cold wave could still exhaust reserves. (reuters.com)
Source: Reuters
