Heavy snows, shortage of de-icing fluid ground German flights

Heavy snows, shortage of de-icing fluid ground German flights

2010-12-11 04:22:37 GMT+7 (ICT)

BERLIN (BNO NEWS) -- Several carriers on Friday cancelled all flights leaving from Berlin and Frankfurt because of a "serious" shortage of de-icer, local media reported quoting chemicals companies.

According to the Bild newspaper, British carrier Easyjet on Friday cancelled all flights leaving from Berlin due to the shortage of the fluid.

On Friday at least 37 flights were cancelled at Frankfurt airport, Europe's third busiest, following 480 cancellations on Thursday, due to heavy snowfalls in the country, especially in the south, and the shortage of de-icer. More than 200 flights cancelled were also reported at Berlin's two main airports.

Bild quoted a spokesman for Swiss chemicals company Clariant as saying that there were supply problems, because "everyone needs de-icer all at once."

Another company, GlobeGround, that covers Berlin's two main airports said that manufacturers were experiencing problems delivering de-icer to airports, but also producing the fluid.

Heavy snowfalls also disrupted road and rail operations in various parts of the country.

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