Half a million passengers stranded due to airport strikes in Germany
A strike by German airport staff will paralyze air traffic: more than 510,000 passengers will face the cancellation of 3,400 flights at the country's major hubs.
Photo: Cityswift, CC BY 2.0
On Monday, March 10, Germany’s air traffic will be nearly paralyzed due to a massive strike by airport staff.
More than 510,000 passengers will face the cancellation of over 3,400 flights. The reason is a protest organized by the union Verdi, which is demanding salary increases for public sector and ground handling employees.
The strike will affect the country’s largest airports, including Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf.
Frankfurt Airport has already warned passengers that departures from Germany’s main aviation hub are unlikely to take place, and transit travelers are advised to check their flight status.
Verdi insists on an 8% salary increase or at least an additional €350 per month, along with extra bonuses and paid leave. Employers have rejected these demands, calling them financially unfeasible.
The union has already staged several localized protests in February, but after the second round of negotiations failed, it decided to take more radical measures.
Negotiations between the parties will resume later in March. However, if a compromise is not reached, Germany could face further waves of strikes.
Earlier, on February 21, a major strike of public transport workers took place in six federal states of Germany, as they demanded wage increases and improved working conditions.