Melanie Gerhardt, Head of Security and Crisis Management at DER Travel and Tourism, gives tips in the one_Interview on how to start your holiday in a relaxed manner despite the tense situation at the airports.
Over Whitsun, Europe's airports recorded the highest number of flight frequencies since 2019. Airport staff who were laid off during the Covid crisis are now absent from security and border controls as well as ground handling services. This situation is leading to long waiting times and missed flights for many holidaymakers. Melanie Gerhardt, Head of Security and Crisis Management at DER Travel and Tourism, explains how they can still enjoy a relaxed start to the best time of the year.
Melanie Gerhardt, Head of Security and Crisis Management at DER Travel and Tourism
one: What is the current situation at German airports?
Melanie Gerhardt: After more than two years of pandemic-related reductions, the infrastructure at airports is currently being ramped up again, which poses logistical challenges for many operators and airlines. We are seeing a similar picture at many airports at the moment: due to an acute shortage of staff, there are long waiting times at security checkpoints and bottlenecks in baggage loading and bus transfers to aircraft. This results in flight cancellations at short notice and numerous flight schedule changes and cancellations. Disappointed travellers are sometimes unable to make it to their departure on time. In view of the upcoming summer holidays, airport operators and airlines are working flat out to provide the necessary staff and have also cancelled a large number of flight frequencies to stabilise the situation.
one: What can I do as a guest to ensure a relaxed start to my holiday?
Melanie Gerhardt: My tip for holidaymakers is to check in online in advance if possible. Some airlines also offer an evening-before check-in service, where luggage can also be checked in at the airport the evening before. In general, travellers should arrive at the airport even earlier than usual, at least two and a half to three hours before departure. After arriving at the airport or checking in on site, passengers should go straight through security and to the gate. We have also put together a checklist with helpful tips for our guests.
one: And if it becomes apparent at the airport that time is running out?
Melanie Gerhardt: We support holidaymakers travelling with Dertour, Jahn Reisen, ITS or Meiers Weltreisen around the clock before, during and after their trip: Anyone who has provided their mobile phone number at the time of booking will be informed immediately by our security management in the event of flight time changes or cancellations. Should a guest really miss their flight, we will take care of the rebooking around the clock. To this end, we have increased the number of staff in our 24/7 travel assistance centre as well as our help team.
We will be making further adjustments at the start of the summer holidays. If necessary, we will send our Help Team to busy airports to look after guests on site. It is important that guests contact our hotline, which is listed in their travel documents, directly so that we always have an overview of where we need to provide support quickly. Especially in summer, adjustments can be made at short notice, for example if crews fall ill or exceed their maximum service time due to long waiting times. Severe weather often leads to further adjustments to ground handling or the flight schedule. Good preparation and liaising with the airlines and airport operators are very important.
To give our holiday guests the necessary orientation in good time before the start of their holiday, we also offer a series of information events to help them prepare for their upcoming trip. For example, the webinar "Safe to Greece" with important information about holidays in Greece and useful insider tips on the air traffic situation, for which registration is possible at https://bit.ly/39aIg2F. Further webinars are to follow.
