Winter service at Munich Airport: 184 vehicles ready for snow and ice!

Winter service at Munich Airport: 184 vehicles ready for snow and ice!

With the calendar autumn in full swing, he is preparing Munich airport for the winter months. The winter service began its work on November 1, 2025 and will ensure that the large and small airspaces over Bavaria can continue to be flown safely until mid-April 2026. This means a lot of logistics and operational readiness, as a total of 184 vehicles are available for this purpose.

Of these vehicles, 152 are responsible for clearing and de-ironing the flight operations areas. In addition, 32 vehicles are used that are responsible for the airport's roads, paths and parking lots. What is particularly noteworthy is that 71 of the vehicles used are tractors that come from the region. The winter service employs more than 600 people, including around 520 from agriculture and regional transport companies. Around 200 emergency services are deployed every shift to ensure that the areas remain free of snow and ice.

Weather monitoring and emergency planning

The airport's traffic control center operates around the clock and monitors weather events using the latest technology, including weather forecasts and an early warning system for black ice with 18 measuring points. The braking values ​​on the runways are also constantly checked. A high level of planning and organization is required for the entire airport area of ​​around 5.6 million square meters (equivalent to over 780 football fields!). Clearing a 4,000 meter long and 60 meter wide runway takes around 30 minutes, so quick action is required.

The extreme weather conditions, which can occur in the form of freezing rain, pose a particular challenge. Freezing rain can cause dangerously slippery roads and paths and thus endanger operational safety at the airport. The experts emphasize the importance of timing when using surface de-icing agents to prevent premature ice formation.

Sustainability and environmental awareness

Munich Airport attaches great importance to sustainability. The first vehicles running on HVO 100, a renewable diesel fuel, have been in use since this winter season. This leads to lower emissions and is a transitional solution on the way to e-mobility. In addition, instead of conventional road salt, so-called “cucumber water” is used for roads and paths, which is reusable and reduces the need for salt. The use of quartz sand on certain areas also shows the desire to minimize environmental impact.

The cleared snow masses are taken to six snow dumps, where they can store up to 2.2 million cubic meters per season. In order to protect the groundwater, the meltwater is drained away in a controlled manner. Surface de-icing is largely carried out mechanically, which helps protect the environment and reduces the use of chemical agents.

There is an important tip for travelers at Munich Airport in these winter months: It is always worth allowing enough time and considering weatherproof planning. The information also takes into account the availability of parking and hotels with a shuttle service to the terminal. Therefore, all passengers can start the winter season with peace of mind, while the competent team at the airport strives to ensure smooth flight operations.