Germany : Flights Disrupted as 48-Hour Airport Strike Causes Major Cancellations
Flights at Germany’s Munich and Hamburg airports faced severe disruptions on Thursday as a 48-hour strike by the ver.di union brought operations to a standstill. The strike, which began early Thursday and will continue until Saturday morning, affected key services such as check-in, baggage handling, and IT operations.
At Munich Airport, nearly 1,300 out of 1,600 scheduled flights were canceled, while Hamburg Airport saw over 50 cancellations and warned of further delays. Authorities urged passengers to check their flight status in advance and avoid unnecessary trips to the airport.
The strike is part of an ongoing dispute between ver.di, representing public sector workers, and government employers. The union is demanding an 8% wage increase or a minimum monthly raise of €350 ($366) for federal and municipal employees. The protest is not limited to airports, as similar walkouts are affecting hospitals in Erfurt, waste management in Essen, and port and sanitation services in Hamburg.
Government officials have rejected the union’s demands, citing economic constraints. Negotiations between the two sides are set to resume on March 14–15. The strike highlights rising labor tensions in Germany as workers push for higher wages amid inflation and economic challenges.
