A 24-hour strike by workers at 13 major German airports, including Frankfurt and Munich, led to the cancellation of most flights on Monday. The strike, which began at midnight on Sunday, involved public-sector employees, ground crew, and security staff, severely impacting air travel across the country. The disruption affected both domestic and international flights, leaving travelers stranded.

Major German Airports Paralyzed as Thousands of Flights Canceled Nationwide

At Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest hub, more than 1,050 of the scheduled 1,116 flights were canceled. Berlin Airport suspended all regular departures and arrivals, while Hamburg Airport announced that no departures would take place. Other affected airports, including Cologne/Bonn and Munich, warned passengers to expect a significantly reduced flight schedule, with some ceasing regular passenger services altogether.

The ver.di service workers’ union expanded the strike to multiple airports, including Bremen, Hannover, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Leipzig/Halle, and Stuttgart. Even smaller airports like Weeze and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden were affected, as security workers joined the strike. The German Airport Association (ADV) estimated that more than 3,500 flights were canceled, impacting approximately 560,000 passengers.

Union Escalates Strike Amid Ongoing Wage Disputes, More Travel Disruptions Possible

The union announced the strike last Friday but extended it at Hamburg Airport with an additional short-notice walkout on Sunday to maximize disruption. The strike is part of a common German wage negotiation tactic known as a “warning strike.” It stems from two separate labor disputes: one over pay and working conditions for airport security staff and another involving pay negotiations for employees of federal and municipal governments.

Previous strikes have already affected airports in Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, and Munich. Negotiations over the broader public-sector wage dispute are set to resume on Friday, while talks concerning airport security workers are scheduled for March 26. If agreements are not reached, further disruptions to air travel in Germany remain a strong possibility.