More than half a million people face travel disruption due to German airport strikes

BERLIN - More than half a million people are facing travel disruption at German airports on March 10 where a 24-hour strike has led to thousands of flight cancellations in a dispute about workers’ pay.

The operator of Frankfurt airport, Germany’s busiest, said no passenger flights would depart from there on March 10, with delays and cancellations also possible on March 11.

Of the 1,116 incoming and outbound flights planned in Frankfurt on March 10, 1,050 had already been cancelled with that number expected to rise, a spokesperson for Fraport said.

The strike,

called by the Verdi union on March 7,

impacts 13 airports across the country, including Munich, Berlin and Dusseldorf.

Workers at Hamburg airport brought their strike forward by one day, with nearly 300 flight cancellation there on March 9.

Several flights between Singapore and Frankfurt as well as Munich have been cancelled or re-timed by Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa, according to Changi Airport’s website.

Affected flights include at least five departures between March 10 and 12, as well as at least five arrivals on March 11 and 12.

Verdi is demanding an 8 per cent wage increase, or at least an increase of €350 (S$505) more per month, as well as higher bonuses and additional time off.

Employers have rejected the demands as unaffordable.

Negotiations are due to continue later in March. REUTERS