Heavy snowfall and wet, dense snow caused widespread flight cancellations and delays at Oslo Airport on Thursday, November 12.
Avinor, the state-owned company that operates the airport, reported that clearing the runways and de-icing all departing aircraft created a bottleneck that persisted throughout the evening. The weather system, which also impacted regions further north, caused delays for flights destined for Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes, as reported by Fremover.
“Heavy and wet snow has made it challenging for us today,” said Helene W. Jensen, a press spokesperson for Avinor, to VG. While the airport remained operational, the sheer volume and weight of the snow required constant clearing, leading to cascading delays that affected arrivals and departures well into the night.
According to NRK, crews worked continuously to clear snow from runways and aircraft wings, as every plane was required to undergo de-icing before takeoff.
The operational challenges left many passengers stranded on aircraft for extended periods. One traveler headed to Gdansk told VG that they sat on the tarmac for hours without access to food or drink. Another passenger bound for Rome reported being stuck at the gate for five hours as the aircraft waited for its turn in the de-icing queue.
Norwegian’s press chief, Catharina Solli, confirmed to VG that some flights spent up to 40 minutes taxiing to the gate because of the ongoing snow removal work.
Ground transportation across the Østlandet region also faced severe gridlock. Aftenposten reported that over 1,000 bus departures were delayed or canceled in Oslo as buses became stuck in heavy traffic and unplowed streets. Affected lines included 20, 21, 28, 30, 31, 31E, 34, 37, and 54. Flybussen announced the suspension of all routes, noting that other vehicles blocking the roads made it impossible for their buses to reach the airport.
The rail network experienced similar pressures. Flytoget, the airport express train, saw multiple cancellations throughout the afternoon but began phasing in normal service again by 2:00 p.m., with full operations restored by 3:10 p.m., according to Camilla Hellum of Flytoget, speaking to VG.
Aftenposten noted that the heavy, wet snow caused trees and branches to break in public spaces, such as the Botanical Garden in Oslo, which was forced to close. In Lørenskog, several semi-trucks became stuck at Djupedalstoppen during the midday hours.
NAF communication advisor Nils Sødal advised drivers to switch to winter tires immediately or leave their vehicles at home. NRK reported that while there were numerous traffic accidents, no injuries were recorded. Oslo police operations leader Anders Aas noted that the responsibility for clearing fallen trees and branches rested with the City Environment Agency and the fire department.
Regions further north felt the impact of the southern weather. Fremover reported that the severe conditions at Oslo Airport caused ripple effects for flights heading to Harstad/Narvik Airport Evenes. Avinor advised all travelers to arrive at the airport at their regularly scheduled time unless otherwise instructed by their airline.
Passengers told VG that they were informed they could disembark if they wished to find food, but doing so would mean missing their flight.
Avinor advised travelers to monitor their website for real-time updates on departures and arrivals, as reported by VG.
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