Unpredictable weather conditions lead to difficulties in air travel.

Aviation monitoring service - Unpredictable weather conditions lead to difficulties in air travel.

There's been an uptick in weather issues disrupting air travel in Germany lately. In May, they experienced double the number of major weather events compared to the same month last year, reported Arndt Schoenemann, head of German Air Navigation Services (DFS) in Langen near Frankfurt. Stormy weather resulted in rerouting or temporary shutdowns of airports, and Schoenemann noted, "Climate change is becoming increasingly evident."

Air traffic in Germany is still lagging behind its pre-pandemic levels and is now projected to return to those levels in 2027. DFS tracked 2.83 million flights of bigger aircraft in 2021 using instrument rules. They're anticipating about 3 million of these flights this year, which is still below the 2019 numbers. These flights include commercial passenger and cargo jets, along with military planes, all of which operate under instrument rules. They're overseen and guided by DFS controllers at central hubs and airport control towers.

Schoenemann mentioned that air traffic is undergoing greater fluctuations than in the past due to more emphasis on tourism travel. This necessitates a more flexible use of staff, an adjustment they're ready for. The pandemic led to no layoffs at DFS, and they continue to operate at a high capacity.

Air traffic control has other challenges beyond weather events and fluctuating demand. With the war in Ukraine, significant airspace closures in the east have emerged, accompanied by a 15-20% increase in military aviation activity. Overall, the landscape of air traffic has shifted westward, causing more congestion in German airspace.

Germany is also dealing with a couple of significant events this year - the "Tiger Meet" NATO exercise starting in Schleswig-Holstein on Monday and the European Football Championship. These events take place in an already crowded airspace, which constitutes approximately 3% of the European total area but compensates for a whopping one-third of all flights over the continent.

Schoenemann acknowledged that German air traffic will continue to lag behind Europe's progress. He defended DFS against criticism of their role in delayed recovery, stressing that their route fees are on par with other countries. The uniform takeoff and landing rate at all German airports, he added, supports smaller airports that would otherwise require higher fees to cover costs. However, low-cost airlines frequently criticize German air traffic taxes, airport fees, and the air safety tax, which charges for passenger and luggage inspection. The controller costs account for a tiny fraction of flight ticket prices.

Read also:

1. Despite the challenging weather conditions in Frankfurt, DFS in Hesse continues to manage air traffic operations effectively.
2. The double number of major weather events in Frankfurt last May necessitated air traffic control to reroute or temporarily close some German airports.
3. Even with the increased weather issues and the impact of Coronavirus, DFS anticipates air traffic in Germany to return to its pre-pandemic levels by 2027.
4. The ongoing climate change, along with the war in Ukraine and significant airspace closures, pose additional challenges for air traffic control in Frankfurt and Germany.
5. While Frankfurt is dealing with these challenges, it is also preparing for significant events like the "Tiger Meet" NATO exercise and the European Football Championship, which will further increase air traffic in the area.

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