Massive Airport Strike in Germany Disrupts Thousands of Flights
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A nationwide airport strike in Germany is causing severe disruptions to air travel, with thousands of flights canceled and over half a million passengers affected. The walkout, organized by the Verdi union, stems from an ongoing wage dispute with the public sector.
According to Deutsche Welle (DW), the strike involves public service workers, ground staff, and aviation security personnel, who are demanding a new collective agreement for approximately 2.5 million employees. The protest follows the breakdown of the second round of wage negotiations.
Federal and municipal authorities have rejected the union’s demands, which include an 8% salary increase, additional bonuses, and three extra days off, arguing that these conditions are financially unfeasible.
Most Affected Airports
The strike has had a major impact on Frankfurt, Germany’s busiest airport, as well as terminals in Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin-Brandenburg, and Leipzig-Halle.
Airlines have urged passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport, as widespread cancellations and delays are expected. The German Airports Association (ADV) estimated that over 3,400 flights would be canceled, affecting 510,000 travelers.
Lufthansa confirmed that all its operations to and from the affected airports would experience significant delays and mass cancellations.
Unexpected Shutdown in Hamburg
One of the most disruptive effects of the strike occurred in Hamburg, where the walkout began ahead of schedule without prior notice, leaving many passengers stranded. According to DW, the airport operator reported that workers abruptly abandoned their duties, forcing the cancellation of nearly all scheduled flights on Sunday.
A Verdi spokesperson, quoted by DW, defended the move, stating that the goal was to ensure the protest had a significant impact. Meanwhile, public broadcaster NDR reported that many passengers who had already checked in their luggage faced difficulties retrieving it due to the unexpected service halt.
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