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Jan 25, 2026

Winter storm in the U.S. forces Lufthansa to cancel multiple long-haul flights from Frankfurt

Winter storm in the U.S. forces Lufthansa to cancel multiple long-haul flights from Frankfurt
Lufthansa has begun large-scale preventative cancellations after U.S. weather services warned of a coast-to-coast blizzard expected to paralyse airports from Texas to Maine between 24 – 26 January.

According to the airline’s spokesperson, all departures from Frankfurt to New York-JFK, Newark, Boston, Washington-Dulles, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston on 25 January have already been scrubbed, with further cancellations and significant delays likely as the storm track moves north-east.

The decision was taken less than 24 hours after the U.S. National Weather Service upgraded its warnings and asked carriers to reduce schedules proactively. Frankfurt Airport remains fully operational, but ground-handling teams have been instructed to prepare for last-minute aircraft parking swaps and irregular crew positioning.

Winter storm in the U.S. forces Lufthansa to cancel multiple long-haul flights from Frankfurt


For corporate mobility managers the disruption comes at an awkward time: January is peak season for North-Atlantic project kick-offs and trade-fair travel out of Germany. Employers have been advised to trigger duty-of-care protocols, allow remote attendance at U.S. meetings where possible, and double-check ESTA validity for travellers re-routed through Canada.

Whether you suddenly need an ESTA renewal, a Canadian eTA because you’re being rerouted through Toronto, or alternative visas for a last-minute change of itinerary, VisaHQ can help expedite travel documents from Germany and keep projects on schedule. Their online platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) offers real-time status tracking and expert support, making it easier for stranded passengers and corporate travel teams to navigate fast-changing entry requirements.

Lufthansa said affected customers will be rebooked free of charge or offered refunds; rebooking queues, however, were already exceeding one hour on Saturday afternoon. Travellers with onward connections to Latin America have been told to monitor the situation closely because missed trans-Atlantic sectors invalidate through-tickets on many fare classes.
VisaHQ's expert visas and immigration team helps individuals and companies navigate global travel, work, and residency requirements. We handle document preparation, application filings, government agencies coordination, every aspect necessary to ensure fast, compliant, and stress-free approvals.
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