Paragraph 1 – Airport advisory.
BER Airport issued a level-orange weather bulletin at 12:00 on 8 January warning of "significant delays and possible cancellations" as heavy snowfall from Storm Elli sweeps across eastern Germany. Passengers are urged to check flight status and allow extra time for winter travel conditions.
Paragraph 2 – Snow-clearing logistics.
The airport’s modern winter-service fleet, supplemented by 18 Wisag de-icing trucks, has been on 24-hour standby. Runways, taxiways and aprons must be ploughed and treated continuously, while each aircraft requires a two-step de-icing and anti-icing procedure that can add 30-45 minutes per departure. Tanks for glycol-based fluids were pre-filled earlier in the week, but supply will be reassessed every six hours.
Paragraph 3 – Passenger and airline impact.
Early departures are prioritised, with non-hub carriers likely to see the largest schedule cuts. Airlines have updated re-booking policies, and rail replacement is limited because Deutsche Bahn is already running ice-slowed services. Travellers connecting onward from Berlin may need to overnight or reroute via Frankfurt, Copenhagen or Vienna.
![Storm ‘Elli’ Triggers Snow-Operations Protocol at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport]()
Amid these shifting itineraries, travellers who suddenly need to extend their Schengen stay or secure a visa for an unexpected diversion can tap VisaHQ’s Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/). The platform offers rapid eligibility checks, expedited visa processing and concierge passport services, giving mobility managers and individual passengers a reliable option for last-minute documentation needs.
Paragraph 4 – Practical advice for mobility managers.
Corporations should remind travellers that digital boarding passes may fail if phone batteries drain quickly in sub-zero conditions; printed backups are advisable. For staff landing during the storm, arrange ground transport in advance—ride-hailing prices surge during snowfall and taxi queues lengthen. Immigration appointments at BER’s on-site Foreigners’ Authority branch are currently expected to proceed but could be rescheduled on short notice.
Paragraph 5 – Looking ahead.
DWD forecasts suggest snow will taper by late evening, but freezing fog could extend disruptions into 9 January. Mobility teams should monitor BER’s NOTAM updates, ensure travellers have Schengen visa validity for unplanned layovers, and track any duty-of-care incidents via their travel-risk platforms.
BER Airport issued a level-orange weather bulletin at 12:00 on 8 January warning of "significant delays and possible cancellations" as heavy snowfall from Storm Elli sweeps across eastern Germany. Passengers are urged to check flight status and allow extra time for winter travel conditions.
Paragraph 2 – Snow-clearing logistics.
The airport’s modern winter-service fleet, supplemented by 18 Wisag de-icing trucks, has been on 24-hour standby. Runways, taxiways and aprons must be ploughed and treated continuously, while each aircraft requires a two-step de-icing and anti-icing procedure that can add 30-45 minutes per departure. Tanks for glycol-based fluids were pre-filled earlier in the week, but supply will be reassessed every six hours.
Paragraph 3 – Passenger and airline impact.
Early departures are prioritised, with non-hub carriers likely to see the largest schedule cuts. Airlines have updated re-booking policies, and rail replacement is limited because Deutsche Bahn is already running ice-slowed services. Travellers connecting onward from Berlin may need to overnight or reroute via Frankfurt, Copenhagen or Vienna.
Amid these shifting itineraries, travellers who suddenly need to extend their Schengen stay or secure a visa for an unexpected diversion can tap VisaHQ’s Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/). The platform offers rapid eligibility checks, expedited visa processing and concierge passport services, giving mobility managers and individual passengers a reliable option for last-minute documentation needs.
Paragraph 4 – Practical advice for mobility managers.
Corporations should remind travellers that digital boarding passes may fail if phone batteries drain quickly in sub-zero conditions; printed backups are advisable. For staff landing during the storm, arrange ground transport in advance—ride-hailing prices surge during snowfall and taxi queues lengthen. Immigration appointments at BER’s on-site Foreigners’ Authority branch are currently expected to proceed but could be rescheduled on short notice.
Paragraph 5 – Looking ahead.
DWD forecasts suggest snow will taper by late evening, but freezing fog could extend disruptions into 9 January. Mobility teams should monitor BER’s NOTAM updates, ensure travellers have Schengen visa validity for unplanned layovers, and track any duty-of-care incidents via their travel-risk platforms.
