There are mornings when the world feels a little softer, as though the usual sharp edges of life are hushed under a blanket of white. Snow and frost can lend a certain poetry to a city, turning streets into quiet avenues and rooftops into gentle slopes of quiet light. Yet beneath that serene surface, winter can also lay down a sheen so treacherous that it brings even the busiest crossroads of travel to a standstill.
In Berlin this week, such a moment unfolded at the city’s main air hub, where the runways — normally ribbons of concrete buzzing with arrivals and departures — became silent mirrors reflecting the winter sky. A persistent mix of snow, freezing rain, and black ice left the surfaces dangerously slippery, forcing airport authorities to suspend all take-offs and landings for an uncertain period as crews worked to make the field safe again. The decision was described not as an inconvenience but as a necessary pause, rooted in the simple imperative of safety.
Travelers who had hoped to embark on journeys found themselves in a kind of winter limbo: suitcases at their feet, flights printed but deferred, and the steady hum of information alerts reminding them to stay in touch with their airlines. One airport spokesperson’s description of the runways as “like a real ice rink” captured the unusual condition that made normal operations impossible.
The closure followed a cascade of weather-related disruptions that began as snow and freezing rain moved across northeastern Germany. Airlines were already canceling flights on Thursday as de-icing became increasingly difficult — rain that froze immediately on contact made treating aircraft and runways a race against conditions that simply would not relent.
By early Friday, officials confirmed that Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) would remain closed, and that both arrivals and departures were suspended without a clear timeline for return to normalcy. Efforts by ground crews to break up the ice and clear the airfield continued through the night, but the stubborn glaze meant that any restart of service would need both patience and improved weather.
For many passengers, the pause brought a mix of frustration and resigned calm. Some found ways to rebook or reroute their travel plans, while others waited in terminals where airport staff offered updates and assistance. Airlines advised travelers to check flight statuses regularly, as plans hung in the balance of a winter system that can shift without notice.
Beyond the airport perimeter, the cold snap affected other parts of Germany’s transport network too. Rail services and roads experienced delays and hazardous conditions, making travel in and out of the region a slower, more cautious affair. Meteorologists had issued severe weather warnings for areas surrounding Berlin and across northeastern Germany, underscoring that the risks extended beyond a single travel hub.
These conditions, while every bit a disruption for those caught in their grip, reflect the kind of weather that can develop when cold air meets moisture — a combination that turns ordinary surfaces into glossy traps, unseen until someone steps or wheels unknowingly onto them. For airports, where precision and safety are paramount, that unseen danger becomes a clear reason to halt operations until the ground is secure beneath every wheel and wing.
As the day progressed, airport representatives said they would continue assessments and provide updates based on both runway conditions and forecast changes. While flights have not resumed full service, there was a sense among staff and passengers alike that, with patience and communication, the city’s skies would eventually welcome back their usual patterns of travel.
AI Image Disclaimer Visuals are created with AI tools and are not real photographs.
Sources Reuters; Economic Times; UNN.