More than 2,000 flights cancelled in Germany as airport workers strike
Warning strikes at seven airports throughout Germany mean around 300,000 passengers won't be able to take their flights on Friday.
Air traffic across most of Germany has come to a complete standstill on Friday, as ground staff and airport security workers at major airports strike over pay.
In Frankfurt, Munich, Hanover, Stuttgart, Bremen, Hamburg and Dortmund, the strike has brought regular operations largely to a halt. At airports that were not on strike, such as Berlin, there were also some restrictions as a result of the warning strikes. According to estimates of the airport association ADV, almost 300,000 passengers were affected by at least 2,340 flight cancellations.
The full-day walkout, called by the Verdi trade union, prompted Germany's biggest carrier Lufthansa to cancel more than 1,300 flights at its two busiest hubs, Frankfurt and Munich.
READ ALSO: What travellers need to know about German airport strikes on Friday
"The strike is expected to have a strong impact, especially on domestic air traffic, ranging from delays to cancellations and even a partial shutdown of air traffic," Verdi said in a statement.
German airport association ADV called the strike action "completely unacceptable".
"Solutions must be found at the negotiating table and not at the expense of passengers," ADV chief Ralph Beisel said in a statement.
Verdi is currently leading negotiations for public sector workers, airport ground crew and aviation security staff, demanding better pay at a time when workers are seeing their incomes eroded by the higher cost of living.
Verdi has defended the walkout, saying a combined day of action was less inconvenient for passengers than several strikes on different days.
The next round of talks with employers is scheduled for February 22nd to 23rd.
Frankfurt and Hamburg airports urged passengers not to come to the airport at all. Those travelling within Germany were advised to switch to train journeys.
Munich airport scrapped all its regular passenger flights.
Verdi said the nationwide strike would not impact flights delivering aid to earthquake-hit Syria and Turkey, or planes carrying leaders attending the annual Munich Security Conference.
The strike caps a chaotic week for air travel in Germany. Lufthansa was forced to cancel or delay flights on Wednesday because of a major IT outage caused by construction work in Frankfurt.
READ ALSO: Lufthansa flights in Germany cancelled and re-routed after IT outage
The next day, several German airports saw their websites disrupted by a suspected cyber attack.
German news outlet Der Spiegel said a group of Russian hackers had claimed responsibility for the attack.
Comments
See Also
Air traffic across most of Germany has come to a complete standstill on Friday, as ground staff and airport security workers at major airports strike over pay.
In Frankfurt, Munich, Hanover, Stuttgart, Bremen, Hamburg and Dortmund, the strike has brought regular operations largely to a halt. At airports that were not on strike, such as Berlin, there were also some restrictions as a result of the warning strikes. According to estimates of the airport association ADV, almost 300,000 passengers were affected by at least 2,340 flight cancellations.
The full-day walkout, called by the Verdi trade union, prompted Germany's biggest carrier Lufthansa to cancel more than 1,300 flights at its two busiest hubs, Frankfurt and Munich.
READ ALSO: What travellers need to know about German airport strikes on Friday
"The strike is expected to have a strong impact, especially on domestic air traffic, ranging from delays to cancellations and even a partial shutdown of air traffic," Verdi said in a statement.
German airport association ADV called the strike action "completely unacceptable".
"Solutions must be found at the negotiating table and not at the expense of passengers," ADV chief Ralph Beisel said in a statement.
Verdi is currently leading negotiations for public sector workers, airport ground crew and aviation security staff, demanding better pay at a time when workers are seeing their incomes eroded by the higher cost of living.
Verdi has defended the walkout, saying a combined day of action was less inconvenient for passengers than several strikes on different days.
The next round of talks with employers is scheduled for February 22nd to 23rd.
Frankfurt and Hamburg airports urged passengers not to come to the airport at all. Those travelling within Germany were advised to switch to train journeys.
Munich airport scrapped all its regular passenger flights.
Verdi said the nationwide strike would not impact flights delivering aid to earthquake-hit Syria and Turkey, or planes carrying leaders attending the annual Munich Security Conference.
The strike caps a chaotic week for air travel in Germany. Lufthansa was forced to cancel or delay flights on Wednesday because of a major IT outage caused by construction work in Frankfurt.
READ ALSO: Lufthansa flights in Germany cancelled and re-routed after IT outage
The next day, several German airports saw their websites disrupted by a suspected cyber attack.
German news outlet Der Spiegel said a group of Russian hackers had claimed responsibility for the attack.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.