- Hundreds of flights cancelled across Germany as airport workers strike over pay.
- Major airports, including Frankfurt and Munich, face severe travel disruptions.
- Union demands an 8% pay rise and improved working conditions for staff.
Hundreds of flights across Germany have been cancelled as airport workers launch a nationwide strike over pay, causing widespread disruption for air travellers.
The industrial action, led by the Verdi trade union, began unexpectedly on Sunday at Hamburg Airport before spreading to major airports across the country. Passengers at key hubs such as Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin have been urged to avoid travelling to airports due to the severe impact on operations.
Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, warned that passengers would be unable to board flights, and transit connections would be “almost certainly” affected.
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German media reports suggest that thousands of flights could be cancelled throughout the day, affecting over 500,000 passengers. Lufthansa Group, whose main hub is in Frankfurt, confirmed “delays and extensive cancellations” across all its airlines.
Munich Airport has also announced a “greatly reduced flight schedule,” impacting airlines such as Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, and Swiss Air. Meanwhile, all 143 departures scheduled for Monday at Hamburg Airport have already been cancelled.
Hamburg Airport spokesperson Katja Bromm criticised Verdi’s last-minute strike, calling it “excessive and unfair” to thousands of travellers at the start of the holiday season.
Verdi, which represents public sector and transport workers, is demanding an 8% pay increase—or at least an additional €350 per month—along with three extra days of holiday and an additional day off for union members.
Lars Stubbe, Verdi’s representative in Hamburg, defended the strike despite the inconvenience to passengers. “Workers are aware of the disruptions, and they are uncomfortable with them. But ultimately, the employers are responsible for this situation by refusing to put a negotiable offer on the table,” he said.
According to Stubbe, while airport wages range from €13 to €25 (£11-£21) per hour, some workers—especially in security roles—receive less annual leave than others.
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Negotiations have so far yielded no progress. “It’s common not to receive an offer in the first round, but even after the second round, employers have refused to negotiate, claiming they have no money,” Stubbe added.
The strike extends beyond airports, with Verdi also calling for industrial action in waste collection across several German cities, including Berlin, Essen, and Kiel. In some areas, bins have remained unemptied since last week.
The so-called “warning strike” is part of two separate pay disputes: one involving airport security workers and another broader conflict over wages for federal and municipal government employees.
Pay talks for government workers are set to resume on Friday in Potsdam, while negotiations for airport security staff will continue on March 26.
