German strike grounds flights
Print Edition
AIR passengers in Germany faced delays, disruption and hundreds of flight cancellations across the country yesterday as ground staff, baggage handlers and maintenance workers walked out over pay.
But Fraport, which operates Germany’s biggest airport in Frankfurt, insisted that the situation for passengers was far from chaotic because passengers had been warned in advance and were able to make alternative travel arrangements.
Lufthansa, Germany’s biggest airline and hardest hit by the strikes, on Wednesday announced it would cancel around 600 of its European and domestic flights. In Frankfurt alone Fraport said some 550 flights had been cancelled out of a total of 1,300 scheduled morning arrivals and departures.
The strikes are being organized by services sector union Verdi and follows a series of walkouts in many public service sectors, such as local transport networks, in recent weeks.
“Workers are sending a clear signal to employers,” a union spokeswoman said.
Verdi is seeking pay increases of 100 euros (US$137) a month for 2.1 million employees in regional and municipal public service sectors, plus an additional pay hike of 3.5 percent.
Strikes have brought public transport networks to a standstill for two days in row in regional states such as Berlin, Hamburg and Bavaria.
Despite yesterday’s walkouts at airports, however, the situation appears to be calm and airlines insist that the impact so far has remained limited.
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