Nearly all of Germany’s airports will be affected by a 24-hour strike on Monday, March 10, following a call by trade union Verdi for public sector and ground handling employees to walk out. The strike is expected to disrupt the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers, with widespread flight cancellations and delays anticipated.
Major Airports to Halt Operations
Germany’s two busiest airports, Frankfurt and Munich, are among those impacted. Frankfurt Airport, the country’s main hub, warned that there will likely be no departures on Monday and advised passengers to avoid coming to the airport. Munich Airport, which faced a two-day strike last month, is also expected to experience significant disruptions.
Hundreds of Thousands of Passengers Affected
The Association of German Airports (ADV) stated that the strike will disrupt the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. With limited notice, travelers will have little opportunity to find alternative routes. Frankfurt Airport alone estimated that more than 150,000 passengers would be affected.
In addition to Frankfurt and Munich, other major airports affected include; Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin, Leipzig-Halle
Union Reaction and Demands
Verdi has demanded an 8% wage increase or a minimum monthly raise of €350 (approximately $505), along with higher bonuses and additional time off. The union called for the strike after the second round of collective bargaining failed last month. Employers have rejected the demands, citing affordability concerns. Negotiations are set to resume later in March.
On the other hand, Germany’s air traffic control operator, DFS, confirmed that it would not be directly affected by the strikes. However, the absence of ground handling and public sector staff will still cause significant disruptions to flight operations.
Passengers are advised to check their flight status on their airline’s website before heading to the airport. Those transferring through affected airports should also confirm their connections to avoid being stranded.
