Schiphol fog disrupts 176 flights, with 29 cancellations

Grace Kim

Schiphol recorded 176 disrupted flights on Tuesday morning, November 10, 2026: 29 cancellations and 147 delays. Dense fog drove the disruption across the Netherlands. The count covered Tuesday morning, not the final total for November 10.

The 29 cancellations represented roughly one in six of the 176 disrupted services; the other 147 were delays. By 8 a.m., Schiphol had cancelled 17 departures and 12 arrivals, while 45 outbound and 102 inbound flights were running late, according to airport data reported by NL Times.

Those four counts reconcile with the morning total. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) had issued a code yellow fog warning; visibility was below 200 metres in parts of the country.

What did low visibility change at Schiphol?

Eurocontrol confirmed that low-visibility procedures were in place at Schiphol, restricting how many aircraft could safely arrive and depart. Reduced visibility can force air traffic controllers to increase separation between aircraft, widening the gaps between arrivals and departures. Eurocontrol's morning network bulletin warned of “substantial delays” at the airport.

The capacity penalty applies even when runways remain open because fewer aircraft can move in each operating period. The cited figures do not quantify an hourly movement cap or costs to airlines, but they establish a 176-flight morning disruption.

Of the 147 delayed flights, 102 were inbound and 45 outbound at the 8 a.m. snapshot. Late arrivals therefore outnumbered late departures by more than two to one, and a late arrival can constrain the next movement before any further weather develops.

Late aircraft and crews can reach subsequent flights out of position, extending the delay across the airline network. The operational effect can outlast the fog itself.

How far did the disruption spread?

Approximately a dozen flights encountered disruption at Eindhoven Airport, while a smaller number of services were affected at Rotterdam The Hague Airport. Eurocontrol reported poor visibility from southern Britain, across the Benelux countries and towards Poland, Denmark and Norway. The fog therefore formed part of a wider north-west European weather system, not an isolated Amsterdam event.

Eurocontrol's wider visibility zone increased the chance that aircraft, crews and passengers would encounter disruption beyond Schiphol. Delay propagation also works through the schedule: an aircraft arriving late may leave a later departure waiting for the same aircraft and crew. The regional footprint made that knock-on effect harder to contain.

Aviation was not the only transport system affected. Dutch road authorities reported several accidents during the morning commute, while motoring organisation ANWB recorded 181 traffic jams covering 948 kilometres shortly after 8 a.m. Schiphol counted 176 flights and ANWB counted 181 jams; the measures differ, but both show the morning's broad reach.

What happens after the fog clears?

KNMI expected visibility to improve around midday. Airport delays can nevertheless continue after fog clears because aircraft and crews may remain out of position. Runways can be available before the schedule is normal. Weather clears on its own timetable; aircraft rotations do not.

Passengers should check flight status directly with their airline, particularly when connecting to long-haul services or travelling on separate tickets. A clear runway does not guarantee a timely onward connection.

What do passengers retain when a flight is cancelled?

European passenger-rights rules distinguish assistance from compensation. A passenger whose flight is cancelled may be entitled to rerouting or refunds, and airlines must provide appropriate assistance.

Standard compensation may not apply when severe weather constitutes extraordinary circumstances. The distinction is practical: a cancelled flight can require help without guaranteeing compensation.

The next measure is whether aircraft and crews regain their positions after midday visibility improves. Until that happens, the 147 delayed morning flights can keep producing knock-on disruption, and Schiphol's final November 10 total remains unsettled.