The industrial action, which started unexpectedly at Hamburg airport on Sunday morning (9 March), has impacted the entire country, including operations at the likes of Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich airports. Airports have urged travellers to check with their respective airlines ahead of travelling.
Berlin Brandenburg airport confirmed strike action means flights will "unfortunately have to be suspended". “All regular departures and arrivals will be affected by the strikes and therefore cannot take place," it added.
Germany’s main hub – Frankfurt airport – axed a further 1,000 flights after cancelling all of its Sunday services to and from Hamburg on Sunday.
“To ensure travellers’ planning security, Lufthansa Group Airlines is offering all guests whose flights are cancelled due to the ver.di strike a free rebooking to a flight at another time or alternatively, free cancellation of the ticket,” the flag carrier said.
“If the flight was booked with a tour operator or travel agency, guests can also contact the tour operator or travel agency directly."
Meanwhile, easyJet cancelled cancelled a total of 25 UK-Germany flights between Sunday and Monday.
Aviation security and ground handling service staff have been locked in a dispute over improvements in occupational health and safety, pay and annual leave.
The strike, which began without notice on Sunday morning at Hamburg airport, was heavily criticised by airport authorities, who called the trade union’s behaviour “ruthless”.
“For us, the frequency with which the ver.di union is covering Hamburg Airport with strikes is unacceptable,” said head of communications Katja Bromm.
“Strikes should always be the last resort and not the first, before we even talk to each other.
“Just two rounds of strikes between talks – that is clearly excessive and unfair to tens of thousands of travellers who have nothing to do with the disputes!”
The next round of talks is scheduled for late March.
Have your clients been impacted by the nationwide strike at 13 airports across Germany? If yes, please email igrassomacola@ttgmedia.com with your story about how you worked to save their trips.
