Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 27, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
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Munich Airport and Lufthansa said they will tighten disruption and evacuation procedures after about 600 passengers were left overnight on six aircraft during heavy snow on Feb. 19. The incident was worsened by curfew limits, scarce buses/terminal space, and missed opportunities to call in airport e
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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)
Around 600 passengers on six planes were stranded for hours during a snowstorm, with delayed transfers from aircraft to the terminal.
They said both made mistakes and would take joint responsibility, calling the incident unacceptable and apologising publicly.
They cited lack of terminal space, stretched bus capacity, and staff shortages, compounded by a strict night curfew.
Passengers spent hours onboard with limited food or blankets and received sparse updates from crews.
Lufthansa said it began contacting affected travellers the following day to handle compensation claims.
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