A two-day strike by ground crew and security staff at Munich airport, Germany’s second-largest airport, has resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
Only 100 out of 830 scheduled flights were able to take off and land as planned on Thursday, according to an airport spokesman.
The strike, led by the Verdi union, is demanding an 8% pay rise for workers, or at least 350 euros more per month, as well as higher bonuses for stressful jobs and more days off.
The union argues that ground and security staff make an “indispensable contribution to the safety and reliability of air traffic” and are facing increasing work intensity and staff shortages.
“We are not just talking about a wage increase, but also about improving working conditions and reducing the workload,” said a Verdi union spokesperson.
The strike is set to continue until midnight on Friday, with the next round of talks with employers scheduled for March 14.
The strike has also affected other airports in Germany, including Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn, and Duesseldorf. However, Hamburg airport was able to maintain flight operations as normal, except for cancelled flights to Munich.
The strike comes at a busy time for travel, just ahead of the carnival season in the southern region of Bavaria.
Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information on flight cancellations and disruptions.
The strike is the latest in a series of industrial actions by airport workers in Germany, who are demanding better pay and working conditions.
