Finance
Munich Airport, Lufthansa pledge to overhaul emergency protocols after snowstorm mishap
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 27, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 27, 2026
Quick Summary
Munich Airport and Lufthansa said they will overhaul disruption and emergency handling after a Feb. 19–20 snowstorm left roughly 600 passengers stuck for hours overnight on six aircraft. The incident exposed gaps in night-operations readiness—especially limited bus/stand capacity and constraints fro
Munich Airport and Lufthansa to overhaul protocols after snowstorm mishap
Emergency protocol overhaul after Munich snowstorm incident
Stranded passengers and operational breakdown
BERLIN, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Munich Airport and Lufthansa on Friday vowed to revamp emergency protocols following the stranding of around 600 passengers on six planes during a snowstorm last week.
Joint responsibility and public apology
"We, Munich Airport and Lufthansa, made mistakes that night and together we take responsibility," Lufthansa's Hub Manager for the Munich Airport Heiko Reitz said at a joint press conference in Munich.
The airport and airline apologised for what they deemed an "unacceptable" incident and announced new measures to prevent a recurrence.
Key factors cited in the Feb. 19 disruption
Operational shortfalls on Feb. 19, including lack of terminal space, stretched bus capacity, and staff shortages amid a strict night curfew, were cited as key factors that delayed passenger transfer.
Passenger experience and compensation handling
Passengers spent hours aboard aircrafts with limited food or blankets, facing sparse updates from crews. Lufthansa said it began contacting affected travellers the following day to handle compensation claims.
Criticism, accountability demands, and next steps
The response drew criticism from pilot and firefighter unions, while local politicians demanded accountability, warning the event could harm Munich's reputation as a transit hub.
Lufthansa and Munich Airport pledged to improve coordination and readiness in future disruptions.
(Reporting by Christina Amann, Kirsti KnolleEditing by Linda Pasquini)
Key Takeaways
- •Operational bottlenecks—not just weather—drove the ordeal: with many cancellations and stands full, passengers could not be bussed back to the terminal and remained on aircraft for hours. (businessinsider.com)
- •Munich’s night-flight regime is structurally restrictive: the core period is midnight–05:00 with only limited exceptions, which can complicate late-night recovery options during irregular operations. (munich-airport.com)
- •Customer-care expectations are clearly defined in airline policies (e.g., Lufthansa publishes a tarmac-delay contingency plan with a 4-hour limit and frequent updates, subject to safety/ATC constraints), sharpening scrutiny when passengers report sparse information and limited supplies. (lufthansa.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Munich Airport, Lufthansa pledge to overhaul emergency protocols after snowstorm mishap
1What happened during the snowstorm at Munich Airport?
Around 600 passengers on six planes were stranded for hours during a snowstorm, with limited food or blankets and sparse updates from crews.
2What did Munich Airport and Lufthansa say about responsibility?
They acknowledged mistakes, apologised for an incident they called unacceptable, and said they take joint responsibility.
3What operational issues contributed to the delays on Feb. 19?
They cited lack of terminal space, stretched bus capacity, staff shortages, and constraints from a strict night curfew that delayed passenger transfer.
4How did Lufthansa address passenger compensation after the incident?
Lufthansa said it began contacting affected travellers the following day to handle compensation claims.
5Who criticised the response and what concerns were raised?
Pilot and firefighter unions criticised the response, and local politicians demanded accountability, warning the event could harm Munich’s reputation as a transit hub.
