De-icing aircraft wasn't the problem (although the de-icing queues were very long) but rather the failure to properly de-ice and clear the runways first thing in the morning which led to repeated build-ups of ice and slush. This reduced the braking conditions to a category which was too low for most inbound aircraft, forcing most flights to circle for hours or divert altogether while the problem was sorted. Result? Operational chaos. At least one Qantas B747 turned up in MAN.

A bit of snow and everything falls apart. That's southerners for you