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German Airports Face Major Disruptions as Ver.di Union Stages Strikes

A surprise walkout at Hamburg Airport and planned strikes at 13 airports on Monday disrupt air travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers.

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09 March 2025, Hamburg: A queue of people forms in front of the travel center at the main station. All flights at Hamburg Airport are canceled due to a warning strike starting today. Photo: Georg Wendt/dpa (Photo by Georg Wendt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
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Police officers watch aircrafts take their parking positions at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, March 9, 2025, the evening before a warning strike of all major German airports.

Overview

  • The Ver.di labor union is demanding an 8% wage hike, increased bonuses, more vacation days, and restrictions on temporary contracts.
  • A surprise strike at Hamburg Airport on Sunday canceled over 300 flights, affecting more than 40,000 passengers as spring break travel began.
  • Monday's planned strikes will impact 13 airports across Germany, including major hubs like Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin, with more than 3,400 flights canceled.
  • Airport operators and passengers have criticized the strikes as excessive, with disruptions expected to affect over 510,000 travelers.
  • The strikes are part of ongoing negotiations, with Ver.di aiming to pressure employers into meeting demands for improved working conditions and pay.