Europe’s icy airline problems begin to melt

Europe’s frozen air network is starting to thaw as airports slowly return to normal.

Passengers have been stranded across the continent as heavy snow closed runways and led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas condemned long passenger waits – but authorities at Frankfurt Airport say the situation is now under control.

“All three runways are open. We are now back to full capacity,” said a spokesman.

“The queues that we are seeing at the moment are going down quickly. That gives us hope. We expect to clear the backlog from yesterday so we that we can get back to normal soon.”

Europe’s busiest airport, London Heathrow, was the one of the worst hit but says it plans to operate 70 percent of its schedule today, and hopes all services will be operating by Thursday.

Those dreaming of White Christmas did not imagine they would be sleeping in airport terminals for up to five days.

Thousands are still waiting to get home for the holidays – and their wait is not over yet.

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