Overnight snow from Sunday to Monday morning stopped large numbers of passengers on the way, with many flights and trains delayed or canceled.

The Frankfurt airport, Europe's second largest, canceled about 300 flights on Monday, said a spokeswoman. The airport also canceled about half of its flights on Sunday, forcing some 500 people to spend the night at the airport.

Some passengers reportedly had clashes with the police after a long time of waiting in the terminals. More than 700 flights at other major German airports in Munich and Berlin were also canceled.

Trains were also overburdened and potential passengers were advised to stay at home to help ease the transport strain.

The German national train service, Deutsche Bahn, said on Sunday that passengers can get refunds for their tickets up to Christmas without any charge if they postpone their travels.

"Now the trains are always late, and so crowded that you can't get on, and then you have to wait for another," said Lothar Ast, 57, a custodian shivering in a Berlin station.

The road traffic has also been affected. In Germany's most populous state North Rhine-Westphalia, some major motorways have been shut down completely due to the heavy snow, a police spokesman said.