Lufthansa May Sue Authorities Over Bush Visit Flight Delays

[Iterate]

Last minute changes in flight rules, a late arrival, and a late motorcade departure caused additional disruption at the Frankfurt airport Wednesday when President Bush visited Germany. The expected disruption was twice as large as expected.

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/02/24/lufthansa.bush.reut/

http://www.reuters.de/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=companiesNews&storyID=679151§ion=news

http://www.eyefortravel.com/index.asp?news=45144


A light snow shower may have compounded the problem. A Lufthansa spokesman responded, "from our perspective the weather is not a valid reason for the delays and cancellations."

From Luchtzak Aviation (http://www.luchtzak.be/article7831.html)

"60% of the traffic at Frankfurt's airport is Lufthansa's: 77 short and medium-distance flights had to be canceled, affecting about 5,000 passengers.

Long-haul travelers were not disrupted.

In all 92 outgoing flights and 86 incoming flights were delayed by an hour average, following Bush's arrival, affecting almost 17,000 passengers."

Hmmm...does anyone remember a huge national scandal sometime back about a supposed Clinton haircut on the tarmac of LAX?

[Karenina]

1. Die Rechnung...

$uche ich.

[cthrumatrix]

2. bush said he should be held accountable --- this is a good test

[NYC]

3. Keep these stories coming.

This is what happens when Bush "visits". Also, let us know how much damage he left behind.

[Iterate]

9. Sure enough NYC

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1266265

It's going to be tough to get anything out of these birds, but Bush is vulnerable on this one. Making it stick is another matter.

[Zgrrl]

4. Lufthansa Rocks...

I used to work for Lufthansa in Germany years ago. They take two things very seriously - safety & punctuality. Also, they're not cheap. To shell out money for a Lufthansa ticket and then have your flight severely delayed or cancelled all because of the Chimperor...well, I can imagine that the Germans were a little pissed.

I hope they go through with this. Those Germans are no-nonsense.

[onager]

6. O-T, I guess, but I LOVE Lufthansa

Never had a problem with that airline, and I've flown it all over the place, including within Germany. Couple of weeks ago I flew Lufthansa from Cairo (Egypt) to Los Angeles via Frankfurt. (Coming back from a month-long work trip in Egypt.)

As you say, they are VERY serious about punctuality. The cabin crew is always top-notch. And their airline food actually tastes like real food! (At least in Biz Class.)

When I worked in Saudi Arabia, Lufthansa used to arrange it so that I overnighted in Frankfurt. I would get one of those 4x4 foot rooms at the Stalag Sheraton, then get on the local train and go bombing around the city. Loads of fun!

Even if you never leave the Frankfurt terminal there's lots to do. Tons of great stores (including a Harrod's), 4 or 5 movie theaters, and in the basement, good ol' Doktor Mueller's Sex Shoppe!

[Colorado Blue]

5. Maybe they will retain President Bush as collateral against

future damages:)

[Nancy Waterman]

7. Lufthansa May Sue over Bush Visit Flight Disruption

His disreagrd for the people of the world, including us in this country, is just unfathomable. He really stomps around like the Emperor of the World!

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Europe's No. 2 airline, may seek redress for cancellations and delays from German authorities who temporarily brought the Frankfurt area to a standstill yesterday for a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush, damaging business for local companies.

Lufthansa had to cancel 92 flights, affecting 5,730 passengers, as a consequence of air traffic restrictions, said spokesman Thomas Jachnow in a telephone interview. Delays to another 330 flights totaled around 300 hours. Jachnow said losses went ``well into the millions,'' though he declined to elaborate.

Bush's eight-hour trip to Mainz, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Frankfurt, for talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, led the authorities to halt river traffic on the Rhine, Europe's busiest waterway, suspend takeoffs and landings at Frankfurt airport, Europe's second biggest, and close four motorways for periods of up to four hours. Much of Mainz city center was cordoned off, damaging business in local stores.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000100&sid=a5r.jATeAKnQ

[burrowowl]

8. Kick!

Go Lufthansa! And may the Bu$h FEE pay for it!

[KDLarsen]

10. Come to think of it..

.. didn't the new rules on passenger compensation in the EU step into effect before this mess? Think about it - 5000 pax, each given 250€ in compensation along with a lot of other goodies. That's going to be a VERY expensive tab for Lufthansa to pick up.

[oasis]

11. To see Bush departing your shores: Priceless