Europe’s travel misery begins to ease

Europe’s festive travel misery is easing with most of the continent’s main airports returning to relatively normal service. At Paris’ Charles de Gaulle, thanks to fresh deliveries of de-icing fluid flights were finally taking off.

The severe cold snap has disrupted travel for several days and many passengers were delighted to at last get moving, even if most were set to miss their dinner. Only a few hours earlier it was a different story. At least 300 people had to spend the night in the hub. The improvised Christmas Eve supper certainly helped but many were putting on a brave face after their flights were cancelled.

‘‘I’m not at all angry or irritated. No, you have to take things as they come,’‘ said one man.

For those forced to sit it out, even if their flights were grounded, as least the food standards were as high as ever.

‘‘I can’t see a lot of people here so I can say I’m feeling spoilt,’‘ one woman said.

Elsewhere, airports across Europe were mostly back to normal in Britain, Belgium and Germany although there were cancellations in Frankfurt and Zurich.

For those stuck at Brussels airport last night a Christmas mass and perhaps a prayer or two that things would finally get moving.

Many just accepted their fate and tried to get some sleep while others vowed to learn from the experience.

‘‘Yeah, I’ve never had such a Christmas before – one not to forget actually I think. But also a lesson for the future to never book a flight on this date. Never. So it will not happen again,’‘ one delayed passenger said.

Authorities have come in for heavy criticism for how they have handled the chaos. They, like the thousands of travellers that have been stranded over the last few days will hope the worst is now over.

Copyright © 2012 euronews