Takeoffs resumed at 4:40 pm (1540 GMT) on one of the airport's four runways, a spokesman for the authority said, adding no estimate could be given for when landings could resume.

Heavy snowfall and poor visibility led officials to close all four runways at Barajas, Europe's fourth busiest in terms of passenger traffic, at around midday, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers.

Earlier on Friday an AENA spokeswoman said takeoffs would resume at 4:00 pm and landings some two hours later.

A total 1,205 flights were scheduled to take off and land at the airport on Friday, the airport authority said in a statement.

The unexpected snowfall led to long traffic jams and road accidents, reduced speeds on trains across the country and led to the closure of the Spanish capital's zoo, officials said.

Real Madrid football club called off a training session because several players, employees and football journalists could not get to the Valdebebas training ground northwest of the city as many roads were closed.