Onset of winter - Hundreds of passengers stranded in Munich
Following the onset of winter at the weekend, hundreds of passengers were stranded at Munich Airport, some of them for several nights. Passengers complained on the X platform on Monday that promised connecting flights had been canceled several times. Munich Airport and Lufthansa confirmed on request in the evening that passengers had spent the night in the terminals, "including some several times", as an airport spokesperson replied. Lufthansa spoke of several hundred passengers who had spent the night at Germany's second-largest airport.
Munich is an important hub for international air traffic. Apparently it was mainly international passengers who were stranded, not locals. An end to the problems is not in sight: on Tuesday, there will be no take-offs and landings at Munich Airport from the start of operations until 12.00 noon due to the forecast freezing rain.
One user complained that no overnight accommodation had been arranged and that there had been no flights for over 48 hours. A US citizen accused Lufthansa of her son, daughter-in-law and baby being stuck in Munich for three days without luggage or children's clothes. Another passenger wrote that he had been stuck in Munich since Friday.
"Regular flight operations at Munich Airport are still not possible after the snowfall at the weekend," explained a Lufthansa spokeswoman. "Handling capacities are massively restricted, for example due to frozen airport equipment or snow-covered vehicles." Lufthansa therefore had to cancel further flights.
"Lufthansa is providing meals and hotel rooms free of charge to passengers whose onward flight is canceled due to the weather situation in Munich," the airline said in its statement. Should the contingent of several hundred rooms be fully booked, passengers would have the option of booking a hotel room themselves, and these costs would be reimbursed to the passenger.
"Nevertheless, several hundred passengers are staying overnight in the terminal," the Lufthansa spokeswoman replied. "Either because they don't have a visa to enter the country, or because they don't take up the offer to book a hotel room."
Munich Airport warned passengers on its website that flight operations were still only possible with restrictions.
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Read also:
- Despite being an important hub for international air traffic, Munich Airport was significantly impacted during the onset of winter last weekend, causing hundreds of international passengers to be stranded.
- The unusual weather conditions leading to the onset of winter also affected Lufthansa's air traffic, causing cancellations of connecting flights and leaving passengers stranded at Munich Airport for several nights.
- Bavaria's harsh weather during the weekend led to freezing rain forecasts, forcing Munich Airport to halt take-offs and landings for several hours, leading to further disruptions and stranded passengers.
- Passengers in Bavaria's Munich Airport complain about the impact of the onset of winter on their travel plans, with some passengers even being stranded for over 48 hours and missing essential items like luggage and children's clothes.
Source: www.stern.de
