German airport chaos: Over 3,400 flights at risk from strike
Travelers face significant disruptions at German airports as over 3,400 flights could be canceled due to a strike by the Verdi union.
The strike involves 11 German airports, with preliminary estimates suggesting that more than 3,400 flights could be canceled.
According to the airport association ADV, around 510,000 passengers will need to alter their travel plans.
A simultaneous protest at eleven airports represents an unprecedented scale of action," stated Ralph Beisel, head of ADV, as quoted by Tagesschau.
Eleven airports affected by the strike
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) announced it will suspend all aviation operations on Monday. The operator of Germany's largest airport in Frankfurt is also expecting significant disruptions. "Travel from Frankfurt will not be possible," conveyed Fraport.
Because of the strike, all flights were already halted on Sunday at Hamburg Airport in northern Germany.
The protest on Monday affects airports in Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin Brandenburg, and Leipzig/Halle.
Demands of the protesters
- We feel compelled to go on this warning strike because the employers have not yet presented an offer in the ongoing collective bargaining for public sector employees and have shown no willingness to meet our justified demands - said Christine Behle, deputy national chair of Verdi, as quoted by Tagesschau.
The union is demanding, among other things, a wage increase of 8%, but not less than 350 euros monthly, as well as three additional days off work.
