Strikes at 13 German airports cause flight disruption
The travel plans of 500,000 people are expected to be affected by the walkout
Hundreds of flights have been cancelled across Germany due to a nationwide strike by airport workers over pay.
The industrial action is expected to affect the travel plans of over 510,000 people, according to a report by the ADV airport association.
The industrial action began on Sunday – initially in Hamburg Airport – but has since become a nationwide strike, affecting a total of 13 airports, according to a report by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW).
As well as Hamburg, these include Berlin Brandenburg, Bremen, Cologne Bonn, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Leipzig/Halle, Munich, and Stuttgart – all of which have announced the widespread cancellation of passenger services.
The strikes are being led by trade union ver.di, and are part of a dispute about working conditions and wages.
The union is demanding an 8% pay rise for airport workers, alongside more time off and higher bonuses – demands that employers have so far rejected as unaffordable. The next round of talks to settle the dispute is due to take place on 14 March in Potsdam.
It follows a “warning strike” at Munich Airport in late February.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor for Voyageur Group, joining in 2021. He writes for both ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue, covering a range of topics including international travel and health insurance, medical assistance provision and air medical transportation. He also serves as Title Editor of the Assistance & Repatriation Reviews. Oliver holds an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University, as well as a BA in English with Creative Writing from Falmouth University.