Slippery black ice caused travel headaches as milder conditions moved in across snow and ice-bound Germany on Monday, with flights from the country’s largest airport canceled.
Authorities reported numerous traffic accidents because of the conditions in the northern states of Lower Saxony and Bremen, with one driver killed.
After days of snowy and freezing conditions, low pressure is shifting from the Atlantic across northern Europe, causing ice to melt and refreeze, and forming treacherous and often invisible layers of black ice.
Frankfurt Airport — the busiest airport by passenger traffic in Germany — announced delays in operations and flight cancellations to allow for runway maintenance.
Of 1,100 takeoffs and landings planned for Monday, a spokeswoman said that the airport had already had to cancel 176 in the morning.
While airport bosses did not completely suspend flight operations, a reduced number of aircraft were being allowed to land per hour.
The northwest runway was closed in the morning, with gritting vehicles in
continuous operation. De-icing of the aircraft also led to delays.
