Thousands of flights have been cancelled from 11 European airports today due to strikes, with passengers now expected to face severe disruptions to their travel arrangements
Thousands of flights have been cancelled at 11 European airports today.
Flights at major German airports including Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin Brandenburg have been grounded today due to Verdi, Germany’s largest trade union, calling for the workers it represents to strike. Major airports affected by walkouts include key Lufthansa hub, Frankfurt – in addition to Munich, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hannover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin and Leipzig-Halle.
Workers at Hamburg Airport also unexpectedly walked out yesterday, striking a day early, which resulted in around 250 cancellations. Passengers are now being warned to expect severe disruption to their plans if travelling to Germany today.
The Verdi trade union is demanding a new pay agreement for the 2.5 million public sector workers it supports, which includes pay rises of up to eight per cent an three additional days of holiday each year.
Each Monday, Frankfurt and Munich usually operate around 2,000 flights between them. And while it’s currently unclear exactly how many flights to and from the country will be cancelled today – it’s expected to be in the thousands.
Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, which supports air passengers with disrupted travel claims explained: “This latest set of industrial action by European airport workers could have a devastating effect on air travel across the continent today. And it’s also entirely feasible that flights to destinations further afield and services in the days that follow, will be disrupted too.
“Take Frankfurt Airport as an example, the airport is Lufthansa’s (Germany’s biggest airline) key international hub, it acts as a transit airport for millions of travellers to destinations across the globe. On X, Frankfurt Airport’s official account announced that passengers should ‘refrain’ from travelling to the airport and that the strikes will most likely affect connecting flights.”
Berlin Brandenburg Airport also announced that “no regular flights” would take off today. Anton continued: “If you are due to fly to Germany today or connect via the country, we strongly advise taking the following steps: first of all, if you haven’t been contacted by your airline – reach out to them to establish if your flight is going to be rescheduled.
“Download your airline’s app on your tablet or smartphone and make sure you’re signed up for email and SMS alerts.
“If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to request a seat on an alternative flight to your destination. If they can’t rebook you on one of their services within a reasonable amount of time there is a seat available on another carrier’s flight, they are required to book it for you, at your intended airlines’ expense.
“You also have the right to decide that you no longer want to travel. If you take this decision, you are entitled to a refund equivalent to the full cost of your ticket.”
