Europe airport chaos: hundreds of cancellations
Heads up if you're flying in Europe: Over 300 flights were axed by Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and others, hitting Frankfurt and Munich hard [https://travelandtourworld.com/news/article/severe-flight-chaos-hits-germany-after-lufthansa-qatar-airways-and-more-airlines-cancel-over-300-flights-affecting-travel-to-amsterdam-berlin-barcelona-dublin-milan-paris-new-york-chicago-mi]. Paris, Marseille, and Lyon saw 192 delays and 43 cancellations [https://travelandtourworld.com/news/article/hundreds-of-travellers-stranded-at-airports-of-paris-marseille-and-lyon-in-france-as-lufthansa-ryanair-qatar-airways-and-several-other-carriers-face-192-flight-delays-and-43-cancellations-new-update]. What are passengers' rights in case of cancellations and delays?
The Lufthansa pilot's union, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), began a 48-hour strike on March 12 over disputes regarding pay and pensions, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights. Approximately 400 connections were canceled at Frankfurt Airport and 230 at Munich Airport. The union included more than 5,000 pilots from Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, and Lufthansa Cityline in the strike. Lufthansa aimed to operate more than 50% of its original schedule during the strike, with 60% of long-haul services still expected to run. The airline also planned to use larger aircraft and partner airlines to accommodate passengers. Flights to the Middle East were mostly unaffected due to the "current situation," with exceptions made for key routes. Passengers with tickets issued on or before March 10 for Lufthansa-operated flights on March 12 or 13 have the option to rebook free of charge through March 23 or request a full refund. Lufthansa is also offering Deutsche Bahn rail tickets on select routes within Germany and to nearby cities. The airline anticipates a return to its regular flight schedule starting March 14. Adding to the disruption, winter weather on March 5 caused 93 delays and 15 cancellations at Frankfurt Airport, affecting airlines including Lufthansa, Emirates, and Qatar Airways. Heavy snowfall, icy conditions, and reduced visibility impacted runway activity and aircraft turnaround, requiring snow removal and de-icing.
