Severe winter storm grounds 700 flights in Germany, travel disrupted

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Severe winter storm disrupts flights across Germany, grounding 700 at Frankfurt Airport and affecting Munich and Saarbrücken Airports.

A massive winter storm hit Germany on Wednesday, causing extensive travel disruptions, including the grounding of numerous flights at Frankfurt Airport, a major European hub. Frankfurt Airport experienced significant cancellations, with approximately 700 out of 1,030 planned flights called off due to severe weather conditions. Dieter Hulick, representing the airport, mentioned that around 115,000 global passengers were expected on that day. He also warned that the weather-related issues would persist into Thursday and advised travelers to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.

Hulick explained the critical situation, stating that ice rain had led to ice accumulation, making it impossible for de-icing operations to continue. Consequently, there were no departures from Frankfurt Airport. Although some planes were still landing, the airport faced challenges in accommodating more aircraft due to limited parking space.

Elsewhere in Northern Europe, Oslo Airport in Norway had to shut down temporarily due to heavy snowfall. The cold snap affected several regions, with Britain experiencing school closures and delays, and Sweden witnessing a plane veering off the runway at Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport amid a snowstorm.

The German weather service issued warnings for black ice in many southern regions and heavy snow in central areas for both Wednesday and Thursday. The inclement weather extended across Germany, affecting flights at Munich Airport and leading to a complete halt of operations at Saarbrücken Airport. Additionally, winter conditions caused adjustments in train services, with Deutsche Bahn reducing the speed of its high-speed ICE trains.

The storm also impacted education in Bavaria, with numerous school districts either cancelling classes or shifting to remote learning, as reported by the state’s Culture Ministry.

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