Mass flight cancellations as strikes cripple German airports

Hundreds of flights across Germany have been cancelled as airport workers stage a nationwide strike over pay, causing severe disruptions for air travelers. The industrial action, led by the trade union Verdi, initially began on Sunday at Hamburg Airport before rapidly expanding to major airports across the country.

Passengers at key hubs, including Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin, have been urged to avoid traveling to airports, as operations remain heavily impacted. Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, has warned that passengers would be unable to board flights and that transfers would be “almost certainly” affected. The strike has caused chaos, with thousands of flights potentially cancelled throughout the day, affecting an estimated 500,000 passengers, according to German media reports.

The strike is part of an ongoing dispute between Verdi and employers over wages and working conditions. Verdi, which represents public sector and transport workers, is demanding an 8% salary increase for airport employees, or at least an additional €350 per month, along with higher bonuses and extra time off. Employers have so far rejected these demands, citing financial constraints.

Lufthansa, Germany’s largest airline, has confirmed widespread disruptions across its operations, stating that passengers should expect “delays and extensive cancellations” across all its airlines. Munich Airport has similarly warned of a “greatly reduced flight schedule,” while other major airports such as Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Berlin are also experiencing significant cancellations.

In Hamburg, where the strike began without prior notice, all 143 scheduled departures for Monday have already been cancelled. Katja Bromm, spokeswoman for Hamburg Airport, criticized Verdi’s decision to launch the strike suddenly, especially at the start of the holiday season. She described the action as “excessive and unfair to tens of thousands of travelers who have nothing to do with the disputes.”

Despite the backlash, Verdi has defended the strike, arguing that disruption is necessary to pressure employers into offering better pay and conditions. A union spokesman acknowledged that the strike would inconvenience many passengers but insisted that such action was the only way to make employers take their demands seriously.

At Frankfurt Airport alone, many of its 1,770 scheduled flights have been cancelled, while Munich expects most of its 820 flights to be affected. The strike has also led to baggage retrieval issues, with many passengers who had already checked in their luggage facing difficulties getting it back. Public broadcaster NDR reported that air traffic at Hanover Airport had come to a complete standstill due to the industrial action.

The strike has extended beyond airports, as Verdi has also called for industrial action in waste collection services across several German cities, including Berlin, Essen, and Kiel. Residents in these areas have reported that bins have gone unemptied since last week, adding to the disruption.

Looking ahead, further strikes are expected in facilities operated by the federal government and local authorities. The next round of negotiations between Verdi and employers is scheduled to take place on Friday in Potsdam. Until then, travelers and residents alike face continued uncertainty as the dispute remains unresolved.