The Philippine Online Chronicles

London Heathrow Airport canceled half its flights on Sunday due to severe snow Saturday night, brought on by the Arctic cold snap currently plaguing Europe.

In a move that has been criticized by some, a number of flights were canceled even before the snow began, in an attempt to reduce the flight schedule in anticipation of heavy snow, freezing temperatures and fog.

"If we don't proactively cancel flights, the delays build and build and build and it's much worse for passengers," said Richard Scott from Heathrow operator BAA Limited

Transport Secretary Justine Greening supported the decision, noting the alternative was to have passengers turning up at the airport only to find their flight canceled.

While Heathrow is expected to operate at full capacity today, the cold weather is expected to continue well into the week.

The sudden intense cold wave, or cold snap, is caused by an intense high-pressure area across Russia, causing cloud-free days and nights—and therefore a cooler winter—for the entirety of Europe. In addition, the flow of air around the high-pressure area further lowers temperatures in areas west of Russia.

Up to 16 cm of snow covered Britain on Sunday, causing massive disruptions in transportation across the nation, including drivers spending the night in their cars on highways, a rise in traffic accidents, and Tube passengers forced to walk to their station after trains broke down.

The cold snap has caused over 300 deaths across Europe. Thousands of people remain stranded, particularly in the Balkans. Bosnia earlier declared a state of emergency after the cold snap claimed its seventh victim in the country.

The death toll in Italy reached 17 today, where capital Rome has had its deepest snowfall in 25 years.