Munich Airport Struggles Under Snow and Freezing Temperatures
Over 100 flights have been forced to either depart or arrive late, or even been canceled altogether at Munich Airport. The chill and snowy conditions have made it challenging for planes to take off and land safely, according to an airport spokesperson. As of now, around 130 flights are facing cancellations. At least one runway will always remain clear for operations. The runways will be periodically cleared to ensure the smoothest possible take-offs and landings. Passengers are encouraged to check with their airline for any updates regarding their flights. The German Weather Service (DWD) predicts that the snowfall will continue until Saturday, which may lead to further flight interruptions.
The current weather conditions in Upper Bavaria have caused drastic obstacles for air travel at Munich Airport, resulting in over 100 flight cancellations. The tough weather and adverse storm conditions have led air traffic control to prioritize maintaining a single clear runway for safe take-offs and landings.
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Apart from the weather-related challenges at Munich Airport, other areas around the globe have also been impacted by inclement weather conditions that have affected air travel. For instance, heavy snowfall in Central Asia has resulted in incidents where planes slid off runways and schools were closed due to avalanches in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan[4].
Similarly, winter weather forecasts in the Northeast U.S. are projected to disrupt flights to, from, or via destinations like Allentown, PA; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; and New York City[3].
The aviation sector as a whole is also facing disruptions due to varied weather conditions and Air Traffic Control (ATC) capacity issues, with average en-route ATFM delays slightly higher than the previous week. This is primarily due to ATC capacity/staffing issues[5].
While these incidents and weather conditions are affecting air travel worldwide, it is essential to reiterate that the focus here is on the impact on Munich Airport, based on the provided information.