The skill to safely manage the unexpectedly difficult airway is expected from every anaesthetist. The strategies to safely overcome this severe problem have to be adapted to the given equipment and the individual aptitude and skills of the respective colleague. The algorithms for management of the difficult airway should be as simple as possible, and one cannot assume that devices for fibre-optic intubation are available at every site. Indispensable, however, is the availability of face masks, naso- and oropharyngeal airways and laryngeal mask airways in different sizes at each induction site. This paper is especially devoted to recalling the Oxford non-kinking tube and its specific way of handling, as a lot of cases of unexpectedly difficult airway can be safely managed with this tool. Alternatives to safeguarding the difficult airway are the intubation laryngeal mask airway or the esophago-tracheal combitube. For managing the worst case, the "cannot ventilate - cannot intubate" disaster, instruments for percutaneous punction of the trachea and devices for oxygen insufflation must be readily available in every theatre.