Massive Flight Cancellations as Warning Strikes Begin at 13 German Airports

A significant disruption in air travel is underway as a series of warning strikes organized by the Verdi union have commenced at 13 airports across Germany. This industrial action began at midnight and is expected to last for 24 hours, affecting thousands of flights and hundreds of thousands of passengers.

Employees from public service sectors, including airport operators, ground handling services, and security areas, have walked off the job in response to ongoing wage disputes. Enrico Rümker, a union spokesperson, confirmed that the strike started at the Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) at approximately 3:30 AM.

In addition to the aviation sector, other public service workers are also participating in strikes this week, with another negotiating session scheduled for March 14 in Potsdam.

The warning strikes have expanded to include security personnel responsible for passenger screening and cargo checks, amidst negotiations for a new collective agreement with the Federal Association of Security Companies (BDLS). The next talks for this group are set for March 26 and 27.

Impacted airports include, but are not limited to, Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Cologne/Bonn, Leipzig/Halle, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Munich. Airports in Weeze and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden are only experiencing strikes involving security staff.

The scale of the disruption is substantial, with initial estimates from the Airport Association (ADV) projecting that over 3,400 flights will be canceled, affecting approximately 510,000 travelers. On average, about 6,000 flights operate daily in German airspace, alongside an additional 3,000 overflights.

At Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe's busiest travel hubs, no passengers will be allowed to board, and transit services are also expected to be severely impacted. The airport operator, Fraport, announced that 1,170 takeoffs and landings scheduled for the day, involving around 150,000 passengers, will not proceed as planned. Travelers are advised against going to the terminals, as only a minimal emergency service will be maintained.

The union's demands in the ongoing negotiations include an 8% wage increase, with a minimum monthly raise of EUR350, as well as three additional days off. To date, employers have not presented a concrete proposal.

In the realm of aviation security, Verdi is advocating for improved occupational health and safety measures, 30 vacation days, additional leave for shift work, and the freedom to choose doctors for mandatory health assessments mandated for employees.

Employers within the BDLS have criticized the expansion of the strikes, suggesting that the actions are counterproductive and demonstrate an unreasonable stance from the unions. Christian Huber, a negotiator for BDLS, stated that the strikes are not a productive approach and that the repercussions are being unfairly placed on passengers.

As the strikes unfold, some locations will see participation start later in the morning. In Frankfurt, striking workers are expected to gather for a demonstration.

This series of industrial actions is part of a broader pattern of strikes that have already impacted airports in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, and Munich, where previous disruptions have affected approximately 800,000 passengers. Critics argue that the scale of these strikes is disproportionate, as they paralyze an entire industry without direct involvement from airports and airlines, which are not the union's negotiating partners in this dispute.