Massive Airport Strikes Hit Germany: Over 3400 Flights Canceled Amid Wage Disputes
The Verdi union has launched warning strikes affecting 13 German airports as of midnight, leading to significant disruptions in air travel. Employees from airport operators, ground services, and air security sectors are involved in various wage disputes, and the strike is set to last 24 hours. As a result, hundreds of thousands of travelers are expected to face cancellations and delays, with the airport association ADV estimating over 3,400 flight cancellations impacting around 510,000 passengers.
Key airports experiencing the strike include major hubs such as Frankfurt, Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne-Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin-Brandenburg, and Leipzig-Halle. The Verdi union is advocating for an eight percent wage increase or at least an additional €350 for employees.
The situation escalated over the weekend when the major strike in Hamburg nearly paralyzed air traffic, with approximately 280 flights either canceled or delayed as the union began its action unexpectedly just before the holiday period. Only ten flights managed to take off from Hamburg airport that morning, affecting around 40,000 passengers.
Adding to the disruption, air security employees are also striking. They accuse employers of obstructing wage negotiations and have announced plans to continue their strike on Monday.
Travelers are encouraged to understand their rights regarding cancellations and delays. Passengers should be aware that flights may not take off due to ongoing strikes, which can lead to significant inconveniences.
In addition to airport strikes, Verdi is expanding its actions in North Rhine-Westphalia, impacting local transport services. Public transportation in Düsseldorf will see a near-complete shutdown for 48 hours on Monday and Tuesday, with potential disruptions to Rhine trains lasting until Thursday. The strikes will also affect transport services in Cologne Bonn and the Rhein-Sieg-Kreis.
The strikes are anticipated to peak on Wednesday, with a nationwide strike day planned, affecting public services across the region. Various sectors, including city administrations, childcare centers, hospitals, and job centers, will participate in the major action, which is expected to attract around 5,000 strikers in Dortmund alone.
Wage negotiations for the over 2.5 million employees in the federal and municipal public service have remained unresolved since the second negotiation round concluded without results on February 18, 2025, in Potsdam. Further discussions are scheduled to take place from March 14 to 16, 2025, in Potsdam, signaling ongoing tensions regarding wage increases in the labor market.
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