France asks airlines to cancel 15% of flights at Paris main airports after snowfalls

France's civil aviation authority on Monday asked airlines to cancel 15% of flights until later in the evening at Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports following heavy snowfalls in the French capital Paris.

The airlines are free to choose which flights they cancel so long as they reduce takeoffs and landings, a spokesperson told Reuters.

Airlines were asked to reduce flights until 2000 CET (1900 GMT) at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, and until 2330 CET (2230 GMT) at Paris-Orly.

The French transport ministry urged travellers to check if their flight was taking off before leaving home, and to go to the airport by public transportation rather than by car.

Meanwhile, Amsterdam Schiphol airport, one of Europe's busiest hubs, cancelled almost 500 flights on Monday morning and was closed to incoming traffic until 1200 GMT also because of snowfalls, news agency ANP reported.