Numerous flights at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport were grounded on Thursday, following a temporary halt in flight operations due to a severe winter storm the previous day.
An airport representative from Fraport, the airport’s operator, informed the news agency DPA that out of the 1,000 flights scheduled for Thursday, over 300 have been scrapped.
Although flights are currently departing and arriving, the airport is still recuperating from the storm’s impact, which brought icy conditions, sleet, and snow across much of western and southern Germany.
The possibility of more cancellations throughout Thursday remained uncertain. The airport’s spokeswoman advised travelers to verify their flight status online before heading to the airport.
Frankfurt Airport is not only Germany‘s largest airport but also a crucial hub in European aviation. It ranks as one of the continent’s busiest airports.
On Wednesday, 570 out of 1,047 planned arrivals and departures were called off. The storm’s ongoing effects led to the cancellation of over 300 flights out of the 1,000 scheduled for Thursday.
The airport highlighted that although aircraft can undergo de-icing, there is a risk of re-icing during taxiing on the runway.
A spokesperson commented, “The weather predictions for 17 January indicate flight disruptions and cancellations at Frankfurt Airport. We anticipate similar weather-related disturbances on 18 January.”
Passengers whose flights are canceled are advised not to travel to the airport. Munich Airport is also experiencing significant disruptions, with 254 flights canceled.
German state rail operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) has also warned of delays and cancellations due to the freezing conditions.
The company scrapped several long-distance connections and limited the maximum speed for its high-speed ICE trains to 200 kilometers per hour on Wednesday as a precautionary measure.
