Travelore News: Berlin Airport Cancels Flights Ahead Of March 10th Strike. 10 Other Airports Could See Disruptions

Berlin’s airport has canceled all of its flights for Monday ahead of a labor union strike that is expected to impact more than half a million travelers and thousands of flights at 11 airports across Germany.

The ver.di union representing airport ground staff announced the strike on Friday to give travelers time to prepare. It said workers will walk out at the airports that service Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt/Main, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin-Brandenburg and Leipzig-Halle.

More than 510,000 travelers could see delays or cancelations of their flights, according to airport association ADV. An estimated 3,400 flights are expected to be canceled Monday.

The union’s negotiators demand better working conditions, higher wages and additional days off, among other things.

In addition to massive travel disruptions, the strike could also have a major economic impact on hotels, restaurants and retailers, ADV said.

By STEFANIE DAZIO

Travelore News: Berlin Airport Cancels All Departures On Monday Due To Strike

Germany's Verdi union called for a one-day strike of air security staff at Berlin airport on Monday as part of an ongoing wage dispute, prompting the airport to cancel all passenger departures that day.

The walkout is due to start at 3:30 a.m. local time (0130 GMT) on Monday and will end at midnight (2200 GMT), the union said.

Germany, Europe's biggest economy, has experienced some of its most disruptive strikes in decades this year as unions press for higher pay to offset the surging cost of living.

The planned action follows walkouts at four other German airports - Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne-Bonn and Stuttgart on Thursday and Friday when more than 700 departures were cancelled.

"Due to the warning strikes by security staff, no departures of passenger flights will be possible on Monday April 24," Berlin Brandenburg airport said in a statement, adding arrivals might also be affected.

The union has been negotiating with the BDLS aviation security association to push for pay increases for night, weekend and public holiday shifts.

Reporting by Madeline Chambers Editing by Mark Heinrich, Reuters