Winter weather and air-traffic-control bottlenecks combined on 29 November to cancel 235 flights and delay more than 2,200 across Europe, with Germany’s Munich and Frankfurt hubs reporting schedule-change rates of 3–4 percent and average delays exceeding 25 percent of departures.
Lufthansa logged five cancellations and 255 delays, while regional carrier German Airways scrapped two flights. Although Frankfurt’s absolute cancellation count was small (four), its 130 delayed movements pushed knock-on effects into evening banks, disrupting Asian and North American connections. Travel-data analysts note that German airports are particularly vulnerable when simultaneous snow-removal and de-icing operations collide with pan-European ATC staffing gaps.
![Munich and Frankfurt Among Airports Hit as 235 Flights Cancelled Across Europe]()
Corporate mobility managers should advise travellers to monitor flight-status apps and consider rail alternatives for domestic legs under 400 kilometres—Deutsche Bahn usually adds extra ICE capacity in such situations. Those booking same-day Schengen meetings should avoid last flights of the day, as crew-duty limits can force overnight cancellations once delays exceed three hours.
From a policy perspective, the data underscore the need for Germany’s aviation stakeholders to accelerate contingency planning ahead of the busy holiday peak. Munich Airport’s planned remote-de-icing pads, due online in 2026, could shave critical minutes off turnaround times, but interim solutions will rely on staffing reserves and flexible slot-allocation rules.
Lufthansa logged five cancellations and 255 delays, while regional carrier German Airways scrapped two flights. Although Frankfurt’s absolute cancellation count was small (four), its 130 delayed movements pushed knock-on effects into evening banks, disrupting Asian and North American connections. Travel-data analysts note that German airports are particularly vulnerable when simultaneous snow-removal and de-icing operations collide with pan-European ATC staffing gaps.
Corporate mobility managers should advise travellers to monitor flight-status apps and consider rail alternatives for domestic legs under 400 kilometres—Deutsche Bahn usually adds extra ICE capacity in such situations. Those booking same-day Schengen meetings should avoid last flights of the day, as crew-duty limits can force overnight cancellations once delays exceed three hours.
From a policy perspective, the data underscore the need for Germany’s aviation stakeholders to accelerate contingency planning ahead of the busy holiday peak. Munich Airport’s planned remote-de-icing pads, due online in 2026, could shave critical minutes off turnaround times, but interim solutions will rely on staffing reserves and flexible slot-allocation rules.
