Germany Extends Internal Border Controls Until 15 September 2026
ITB Berlin 2026 Opens: Germany Showcases as Gateway for Post-Pandemic Travel Revival
Eurowings to Join Lufthansa Group Airlines in Munich’s Terminal 2, Simplifying Connections
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EU Visa Working Party Convenes With Digital Schengen Visa High on German Agenda
A Presidency flash note for the 3 March 2026 EU Visa Working Party meeting reveals that Germany is leading calls to pilot the digital Schengen visa before the formal 2027 launch. Faster, QR-code-based visas could cut processing times for German companies’ assignees, but debates on funding and data security continue.
Middle East war leaves 30,000 German holiday-makers stranded worldwide
The sudden closure of Middle-East airspace has stranded around 30,000 German tourists and business travellers. Berlin has activated its crisis mechanisms, while airlines and employers face spiralling relocation and re-routing costs. The incident underlines the need for robust travel-risk policies and up-to-date employee tracking systems.
Lufthansa Group halts passenger and cargo flights to eight Middle-East cities and reroutes via Turkey and Egypt
On 2 March Lufthansa Group grounded services to eight Middle-East gateways and embargoed cargo as the regional conflict deepened. The move disrupts German passenger itineraries and supply chains, triggers war-risk surcharges for exporters and highlights the importance of contingency clauses in corporate travel contracts.
Strait of Hormuz closure and port shutdowns threaten German just-in-time supply chains
An Expeditors alert shows that maritime and air-cargo disruptions in the Gulf are starting to hit German manufacturers. Longer transit times, war-risk surcharges and scarce air-freight space threaten just-in-time production and could raise landed costs by up to 30 %. Companies should review inventory buffers and contract clauses immediately.
Berlin activates crisis task-force and 24/7 hotline for Germans abroad
At a 2 March press conference the Foreign Ministry detailed a multi-agency effort to assist German nationals stranded by the Iran conflict, including a 24-hour hotline, ELEFAND alerts and coordination with tour operators and employers. The measures demonstrate Berlin’s evolved crisis-management capabilities and highlight corporate duty-of-care obligations.