Onset of winter at German airports: Passengers have these rights

Onset of winter in southern Germany causes flight chaos in Munich and Frankfurt. In the event of delays, the airline must provide substitute services such as alternative transport, meals or accommodation.

The onset of winter in southern Germany thwarted numerous air travelers last Wednesday: 133 flights had to be canceled at Munich Airport. There were also impairments at Germany's largest airport, Frankfurt am Main. The main reason for the problems was the risk of ice, which made take-offs and landings too dangerous. The onset of winter and snowfall are expected to cause even more delays or even cancellations in air traffic in Germany in the coming months. But air travelers are not at the mercy of either the weather or the airlines, as passenger rights expert Julián Navas from AirHelp explained. 

Passengers may be entitled to alternative transportation and meals 

“Passengers are entitled to alternative transport if they are delayed more than three hours. The rebooking to another flight must be implemented by the operating airline itself. If the airline does not take action of its own accord, affected passengers should give the airline a deadline of three hours after the scheduled departure time. If the request is still not met, travelers can look for their own alternatives and charge the airline for the costs. If the delay is more than five hours or carriage is carried out at a later point in time, the airline is also obliged to reimburse the full ticket price. In the case of delays of more than two hours and a flight distance of more than 1.500 kilometers, the operating airline must provide passengers with meals and drinks at the airport. In addition, two phone calls or the sending of two e-mails must be possible. If necessary, the airlines must also provide accommodation and facilitate transport there.”

Navas comments on the obligation to compensate: “In extreme weather conditions such as the onset of winter, many travelers from Germany will not be able to take their booked flight as planned. However, since problems in the flight process due to weather phenomena are not the fault of the airline, passengers are not entitled to compensation. 

Passengers have these rights according to EC 261

Flight cancellations and delays can entitle you to compensation payments of up to 600 euros per passenger. The amount of the compensation payment is calculated from the length of the flight route. The rightful claim for compensation depends on the actual length of the delay at the destination and the reason for the canceled or delayed flight. Affected passengers can assert their claim for compensation retrospectively, up to three years after their flight date. Extraordinary circumstances such as storms or medical emergencies can result in the operating airline being released from the obligation to compensate. Both announced and unannounced strikes are not included.