Winter service at Salzburg Airport (Photo: Salzburg Airport Press).
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Snow and ice: Impacts on German air traffic and passengers' rights

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During the winter months, there are regularly significant disruptions to air traffic in Germany. Snow, black ice and winter weather conditions lead to flight cancellations, delays and the associated inconveniences for travelers in many places. The southwest of Germany is particularly affected at the moment, where flight operations at Stuttgart Airport were recently temporarily suspended. Experts explain what this means for passengers and what rights they are entitled to in such cases.

According to air passenger rights expert Nina Staub from the AirHelp platform, passengers are entitled to assistance and reimbursement under certain conditions if their flight is disrupted due to weather. If a flight is cancelled due to ice or snow, airlines are obliged to offer alternatives. This usually includes rebooking on another flight or - for domestic connections - providing a train ticket.

"However, passengers should not make their own rebookings without first coordinating this with the airline," advises Staub. Otherwise, difficulties could arise in reimbursing the costs incurred. Airlines must also provide food and communication options during longer waiting times. If the delay is more than five hours or if the flight is transported at a later time, passengers can claim the full price of the ticket back.

airlines' supply obligations

The EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation No. 261/2004 regulates the obligations of airlines towards their passengers. If there are delays of more than two hours, airlines must provide meals, drinks and communication options. If an overnight stay at the airport is necessary, the airline is obliged to provide appropriate accommodation and transport there.

It is recommended to keep all receipts for expenses related to a flight disruption. "This evidence is crucial for claiming reimbursement for food, accommodation or alternative means of travel from the airline," emphasizes Staub.

Compensation claims: exceptions in exceptional circumstances

A claim to compensation, which can amount to up to 600 euros depending on the flight distance, does not apply in the event of "extraordinary circumstances". These include weather-related disruptions such as ice and snow that are beyond the control of the airlines. However, a ruling by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) in 2023 made it clear that airlines can be liable for delays if they are caused by external services such as de-icing aircraft. However, this only applies if the airline can be proven to have had no influence on the process.

Challenges of de-icing

De-icing aircraft is one of the most common causes of delays in winter. Large airports such as Frankfurt or Munich have extensive capacity to carry out de-icing efficiently. However, bottlenecks can arise when numerous aircraft have to be prepared at the same time. In such cases, it is crucial that

The weather-related challenges in air travel highlight the importance of clear regulations and proactive communication from airlines. While passengers should know and assert their rights, it is up to airlines to meet their responsibility and minimize inconvenience for travelers. Given the forecast winter conditions, further disruptions are expected in the coming weeks.

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