AAt this point we always look back on the week, as is well known, with animal seriousness. With that in mind, we decided today to note a day at Frankfurt Airport. As true as we know it from the information gathered. And if you have any doubts about one point or another: Nothing is more satirical than reality.
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Lufthansa 418 bound for Washington reports a defect and returns to the gate. The technology estimates three hours for the repair. Since the machine had already been exchanged, the crew went beyond the permitted duty time and left their work equipment. Another replacement machine is not available. 370 passengers have to be distributed to other flights, most of them end up in the hotel. However, without luggage, because the unloading does not work at first, the locks are blocked and the luggage depot has long been overflowing. Meanwhile, Lufthansa from Berlin is at the gate around 2 p.m., the stairs are missing. Until she docks, 50 minutes pass, during which the arrived passengers do not disembark and the new ones do not board. Which is probably better than flying from Lisbon to Istanbul via Frankfurt. Because there is a lack of staff, the suitcases of passengers getting off in Frankfurt are not unloaded, and those of those boarding are not loaded.
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The chain reaction never ends. Because passenger handling ties everyone’s tight hands, all cargo planes remained untouched the day before. That, too, must be made up for. “It is not hidden from you that the start-up of the air traffic system does not succeed with the reliability, robustness and punctuality that we would like to offer you again,” the Lufthansa Executive Board writes to its customers. By the early evening when these lines are being written, 61 short and 4 long-haul flights have been canceled on this July day. Pieces of luggage from June 20th are discovered in the depot. People around Apple say that air tags are currently the best seller.