Suitcase chaos and queues: "turbulence in air traffic" - what passengers can expect in summer

Created: 08/01/2022 05:17

By: Felix Herz

August is just around the corner - and with it the start of the holidays in Bavaria.

And the desire to travel is huge after two years of corona restrictions.

Munich – travel chaos.

One of the big summer topics in 2022. Starting with sometimes massive train cancellations and long delays, through the busiest weekend of the year at the start of the vacation in Bavaria to the luggage chaos at Munich Airport.

And that's just a recap of the past few weeks.

But what can travelers expect in August, especially at the airports in Bavaria?

Air travel at the beginning of the holiday in Bavaria: What is the situation in the Free State?

For eleven days, from July 30th to August 9th, all children in Germany have summer holidays – there has not been such a long period in seven years.

It is difficult to say to what extent this circumstance will affect the situation at Bavarian airports.

But regardless of the nationwide holidays, the situation at the airports in Munich, Memmingen and Nuremberg is tense enough.

Is a case chaos threatening again at Bavarian airports?

(Iconic image) © IMAGO / STAR-MEDIA

Staff worries in the entire airport area, as well as an unusually high number of travelers after two years do the rest.

We asked the big airports in Bavaria what the situation was like at the start of the holiday season.

(By the way: Our Bayern newsletter informs you about all the important stories from Bavaria. Register here.)

Nuremberg Airport: Important information for travellers

When asked by Merkur.de, Nuremberg Airport said that around 680,000 passengers were expected at Albrecht Dürer Airport Nuremberg during the Bavarian summer holidays.

On the first weekend alone, from July 29th to 31st, 42,000 passengers would use Nuremberg Airport.

This almost reaches the pre-corona level.

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In other words: There is a lot going on at Nuremberg Airport.

However, preparations have been made for this, according to the press team.

“Since December 2021 we have run a major campaign.

We have been able to hire a good 150 new people since then," says Dr.

Michael Hupe, Managing Director of Nuremberg Airport.

However, other measures are also being taken “for personnel recruitment”.

A need has been registered and hopes for the admission of non-EU citizens for special areas such as ground handling.

The press release says that luggage has also been “significantly” increased, especially at peak times.

And yet: Finally, those responsible advise travelers to plan a lot of time.

You should be in the terminal “at least two and a half hours before departure”.

The airlines' instructions should also be observed and no items prohibited by customs should be taken on the return journey.

Memmingen Airport: The location at the low-cost airport

Those responsible at Memmingen Airport are aware of the impending problems and want to prevent them.

Right at the beginning of the press release it says: "Very long queues, angry passengers and luggage with no return: All of this should not be there at the start of the Bavarian school holidays [...] at Memmingen Airport." said Airport Sales Manager Marcel Schütz.

"And when things get tight, everyone is committed to helping together."

And yet a mammoth task awaits Memmingen Airport: In the summer holidays, those responsible expect even more air travelers than before Corona.

310,000 passengers are expected, in 2019 there were 275,417.

However, if there have been flight cancellations and delays recently, this was due to the congested airspace and other airports, according to Schütz.

Finally, tips for air travelers: be at the terminal two hours before departure, have your boarding pass and ID ready and pack your hand luggage wisely, is the advice.

It also helps to book a parking space online before you arrive by car.

Munich Airport: “Plan for a time buffer” – Aftermath of the strike?

In response to our press inquiry, Munich Airport is confident that the Lufthansa strike on Wednesday, July 27, will have no impact on travel at the start of the Bavarian vacation.

The situation is still tense: 75 percent of the pre-crisis level has been reached.

The answer to our questions says that the airport is well positioned in terms of personnel - however, "air traffic is a very strongly networked system", staff shortages at other parties also have a direct impact on the situation in Munich.

And with the “current turbulence in European air traffic”, passengers should

schedule a time buffer

Dealing openly with the adverse circumstances and tips for travelers to start their vacation as stress-free as possible - that is the motto in Munich.

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