Frankfurt airport faces disruptions due to fault in German traffic control system, flights likely to be delayed

Flights to and from Frankfurt Airport were affected on Friday due to a technical problem with the German traffic control system.

Technical faults had been affecting the system since around 10 am.

DFS, which operates German air traffic control, detected a nationwide problem in data transmission, but it appears to be improving, reported Reuters quoting a spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that other airports, including Dusseldorf, could be affected.

In a post on X, the Frankfrut airport requested passengers to check the status of their flight on their airline’s website before traveling to the airport and allow extra time for your journey.

“Information regarding your flight is available on your airline’s website or by calling 01806-FRAINFO, as well as at http://frankfurt-airport.com,” reads the statement on X.

Operator Fraport said about 70 flights were cancelled but didn't expect many more disruptions because the data problem had been resolved, reported AP quoting German news agency DAP reported.

The country's biggest airline, Lufthansa, said there were a few cancellations and delays but long-haul services weren't affected.

Replying to a query on when the issue will be fixed, Frankfurt Airport responded to a flyer saying, “The fix is currently being worked on, and aircrafts are permitted to take off again. However, flight delays and disruptions are still to be expected. We thank you for your patience and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

In a post on X, one of the flyers who identified himself as Sergio Martínez-Beltran, said, "This is a first for me. The radar at Frankfurt Airport is down, and now I’m stuck in an airplane on the tarmac for the next few hours. Captain said the airspace was closed, although airport is trying to reboot system and start getting some flights out.

Responding to flyers, the airport said that they can contact the operating airline to check whether they are entitled to compensation under Art. 7 EU Regulation 261/2004.