Flight operations at Ramstein Air Base were unaffected Monday despite a software glitch at a German air traffic control center that has grounded or delayed dozens of commercial flights in parts of the country.
Americans trying to fly into or out of Germany in the next several days may experience travel delays while the company responsible for German air traffic, DFS, looks for a fix.
More than 60 flights affecting some 4,500 passengers were canceled Monday at Frankfurt International Airport, most with Lufthansa. Most of the more than 50,000 Defense Department personnel living near Ramstein fly internationally through Frankfurt.
Passengers scheduled to fly out of Frankfurt were urged Monday to check the status of their flight before traveling to the airport and to check in as early as possible. Delays of about 30 minutes for arrivals and departures were reported at the airport during the day.
The software problem could persist until at least Wednesday or Thursday, DFS said in a statement Monday. Safety has not been compromised, the agency said.
Meanwhile, flight operations from Ramstein were continuing as normal and “at this time … are unaffected by the software glitch,” base officials said.
The problem began last week with problems displaying planned airplane routes, Reuters reported. It affects DFS’s Langen control center near Frankfurt, where air traffic controllers oversee flights across several states in southwestern Germany.
Reduced air traffic volume was also reported at Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart and Dusseldorf airports, Reuters said.
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