Lufthansa pilots walked out. Snow kept planes grounded until 23:59. A democracy prize found its first European home. And Frankfurt lit up Freßgass for Ramadan—on Ash Wednesday.
CITY PULSE 🏙️
The cradle of German democracy will honor an exiled Iranian voice.
Masih Alinejad, the Iranian-American journalist and women's rights activist, has been named the first recipient of the European Paulskirchenpreis for Democracy. The €50,000 prize—announced February 11—will be presented March 31 at the Paulskirche, the building where Germany's first freely elected parliament convened in 1848.
Alinejad was selected unanimously from 30 candidates. Bundestagspräsidentin Julia Klöckner (CDU) will deliver the laudation.
Since fleeing Iran in 2009, Alinejad has become one of the regime's most persistent critics. Her "My Stealthy Freedom" campaign encouraged Iranian women to post photos without hijabs. Millions joined. The visibility made her a target of assassination plots on American soil.
The city that hosted the 1848 revolutionaries now extends that legacy to a woman who livestreams resistance from Brooklyn.
Frankfurt switched on its third annual Ramadan lighting on February 17—Ash Wednesday. 35 light objects now hang along Freßgass: crescent moons, stars, Fanoos lanterns, and "Happy Ramadan" lettering.
The display runs through March 22, spanning both Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season. A 2023 city council resolution made it official. Roughly 130,000 Muslims call Frankfurt home.
Around the city:
Homophobic attack in Schäfergasse: Three men kicked a bar door on Valentine's Day night, hurled slurs at staff and guests, then fled by car. Police seeking witnesses.
Konstablerwache brawl: Kiosk argument turned violent Feb 13. Victim beaten on the ground. Three men (21-32) arrested.
Six-car pile-up on A5: Crash between Bad Homburg and Nordwestkreuz on Feb 13. Two lightly injured. Motorway temporarily closed.
MONEY MOVES 💰
Pilots and cabin crew walked out together. That rarely happens.
A coordinated 24-hour strike on February 12 by the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots' union and UFO cabin crew union grounded nearly 800 Lufthansa flights, affecting roughly 100,000 passengers. Frankfurt Airport absorbed the worst of it: approximately 450 cancellations.
The unions are fighting on two fronts: pension disputes and the airline's planned shutdown of its CityLine subsidiary. Management says restructuring is necessary. Labor says workers shouldn't foot the bill.
Three days later, snow finished what the strike started. Heavy snowfall on February 15 forced de-icing delays that pushed departures past the 23:00 curfew. Fraport issued 30 exception permits. The last two planes—bound for Doha and Dublin—lifted off at 23:59. Five flights couldn't make it despite permits. About 1,400 passengers spent the night rearranging plans.
Also in business:
Allegris bookings open: Lufthansa's new Business Class seats on the Boeing 787-9 are now bookable from Frankfurt starting April 15. Routes include Austin, Rio, Cape Town, and Hong Kong. JFK and LAX come in June.
LIVING HERE 🥨
Worth knowing:
U2 rail replacement continues: The U2 runs only between Südbahnhof and Nieder-Eschbach through March 2. Replacement buses connect to Gonzenheim. The disruption is for switch installation ahead of the U2 extension to Bad Homburg.
THIS WEEKEND 📅
February 20–22
Europe's largest sports benefit gala returns to Festhalle Frankfurt on Saturday. Federal President Steinmeier will attend. Jürgen Klopp joins the supervisory board. Olympic rhythmic gymnastics champion Darja Varfolomeev performs. Johannes B. Kerner hosts for the 26th time.
Night Session from 21:30. Tickets: €490 plus €150 donation.
Concerts:
The Kooks – British indie-rock returns to Frankfurt after 17 years. Jahrhunderthalle, Fri 20:00. From €53.95.
Yung Hurn – Austrian cloud-rap. Batschkapp, Fri 20:00.
NASHVILLE in Concert – Original TV cast, first time in Germany. Jahrhunderthalle, Sun 20:00. From €76.50.
Comedy:
Özcan Cosar – "VIP" – Influencer culture gets roasted. Süwag Energie ARENA, Sat 20:00. €44.85-€56.35.
Bülent Ceylan – Sold out.
Theatre:
Something Rotten! – Broadway musical at English Theatre. Fri-Sun.
Tigerpalast Varieté – International variety. Fri 22:00, Sun 16:30 & 19:30.
Also happening:
Börsentag Frankfurt – Free investor fair. Kap Europa, Sat 09:30-16:00.
JuBi Youth Education Fair – Study abroad, gap year info. Lessing-Gymnasium, Sat 10:00-16:00. Free.
Jim Knopf und die Wilde 13 – Children's musical. Papageno Musiktheater, Fri 16:00.
MoreCore Party – Nu-metal and pop-punk. Zoom, Fri 23:00. ~€10.
UPDATES
Seven games without a win. Then 3-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach at Deutsche Bank Park on February 14.
Nathaniel Brown opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab, making his first start, doubled the lead ten minutes later. Ansgar Knauff sealed it in the 75th. Swedish 17-year-old Love Arrhov made his Bundesliga debut.
Campaign posters were destroyed in multiple districts on Feb 13 and again in Bornheim on Feb 14. This follows incidents in Eschersheim and Westend the previous week. Police are investigating.
BY THE NUMBERS 📊
23:59
The departure time of the last two planes to leave Frankfurt Airport on February 15, bound for Doha and Dublin. Heavy snow had pushed de-icing past the 23:00 curfew. Fraport issued 30 exception permits. Five flights still didn't make it.
COMING UP 🔜
March 31: Masih Alinejad receives the European Paulskirchenpreis for Democracy at the Paulskirche. Bundestagspräsidentin Julia Klöckner delivers the laudation.
That's all for this week. Stay sharp, Frankfurt.
📬 Forward this to someone who needs to know what's up
💬 Got a tip or story? Reply to this email
069 – Your weekly pulse on Frankfurt
