After a 24-hour weather shutdown, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) reopened on the afternoon of 7 February, but travellers are still facing cascading delays and cancellations. Airport management told Reuters that snow and freezing rain had coated taxiways with a layer of glass-like ice, forcing a complete suspension of take-offs and most landings from Thursday night through Friday midday.(thenews.pk)
Ground crews spent the night spreading de-icing chemicals on runways, while airlines repositioned equipment and crews. Even with flight operations technically restored, BER warned passengers to expect rolling disruptions as aircraft, crews and slot allocations gradually realign. Lufthansa, easyJet and United have issued re-booking waivers for all Berlin-originating tickets dated 5-8 February.
Amid this logistical shuffle, travellers juggling altered routings or unexpected layovers should also verify that their travel documents remain valid; VisaHQ’s Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) offers a fast, step-by-step check of visa and passport requirements and can expedite any urgent applications, sparing corporate travellers an extra headache.
![Berlin Brandenburg Airport resumes operations after black-ice shutdown—delays persist]()
The timing is awkward for corporate road-warriors: Berlin and Brandenburg schools end their winter break on 9 February, and the airport projects 77,000 passengers today alone. Companies relying on weekend hops to European business hubs should monitor flight status hour-by-hour and consider rail alternatives—bearing in mind that some Regional-Express lines are also hampered by ice.
Insurance experts remind employers that Germany classifies weather-related cancellations as “extraordinary circumstances,” meaning carriers owe no EU261 compensation; however, they must still provide meals and, if necessary, overnight accommodation. Travel managers should therefore ensure employees understand their entitlements before heading to the airport.
Looking ahead, BER plans an after-action review of its winter-operations protocol. Early indications suggest that the combination of freezing rain and high humidity overwhelmed existing de-icing capacity. The airport is studying whether to add additional glycol-storage tanks and heated stand areas before next winter.
Ground crews spent the night spreading de-icing chemicals on runways, while airlines repositioned equipment and crews. Even with flight operations technically restored, BER warned passengers to expect rolling disruptions as aircraft, crews and slot allocations gradually realign. Lufthansa, easyJet and United have issued re-booking waivers for all Berlin-originating tickets dated 5-8 February.
Amid this logistical shuffle, travellers juggling altered routings or unexpected layovers should also verify that their travel documents remain valid; VisaHQ’s Germany portal (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) offers a fast, step-by-step check of visa and passport requirements and can expedite any urgent applications, sparing corporate travellers an extra headache.
The timing is awkward for corporate road-warriors: Berlin and Brandenburg schools end their winter break on 9 February, and the airport projects 77,000 passengers today alone. Companies relying on weekend hops to European business hubs should monitor flight status hour-by-hour and consider rail alternatives—bearing in mind that some Regional-Express lines are also hampered by ice.
Insurance experts remind employers that Germany classifies weather-related cancellations as “extraordinary circumstances,” meaning carriers owe no EU261 compensation; however, they must still provide meals and, if necessary, overnight accommodation. Travel managers should therefore ensure employees understand their entitlements before heading to the airport.
Looking ahead, BER plans an after-action review of its winter-operations protocol. Early indications suggest that the combination of freezing rain and high humidity overwhelmed existing de-icing capacity. The airport is studying whether to add additional glycol-storage tanks and heated stand areas before next winter.
