Strike chaos at airports: 510,000 travelers affected!

Strike chaos at airports: 510,000 travelers affected!

On Friday, March 7, 2025, the United Service Union (Verdi) announced a new big strike, which will begin on Monday, March 10th, at 2 a.m. This 24-hour strike concerns the employees at the airports Düsseldorf and Cologne/Bonn. Verdi aims to put pressure on the employer with this measure in order to enforce the demands for better working conditions and higher salaries. According to Derwesten.de an impact on the flight connections.

The employees at Cologne/Bonn Airport are badly affected: the majority of the 172 planned passenger flights will fail. There is also significant impairments to be expected at Düsseldorf Airport, where 338 starts and landings are planned. For the passengers, it is recommended to find out about the status of their flights before arriving in order to avoid inconvenience.

claims and negotiations

Verdi calls for a salary increase of 8 % or at least 350 euros per month, as well as higher surcharges for stressful working hours and three additional days off. However, employers have already rejected these claims as inconceivable. The collective bargaining should continue in Potsdam from March 14 to 16, 2025. The strike is part of a larger protest that also includes some of the other major airports in Germany, including Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin-Brandenburg and Leipzig-Halle, such as the union in a press release on Verdi.de emphasized.

In recent years, numerous employees in the aviation industry have pointed out the unattractive working conditions due to increasing work loads and inadequate salary increases. This has led to difficulties in gaining and keeping qualified specialists. Verdi therefore demands better working conditions, more leisure and adequate payment.

effects on air traffic

The extent of the upcoming strike will be considerable. The ADV Airport Association warned that over 3,400 flights could fail and around 510,000 passengers would be affected. Berlin Brandenburg (BER) Airport will stop the complete operation on Monday, as all planned departures and arrivals will fail. Fraport AG, operator of the Frankfurt am Main Airport, also announced massive restrictions, which is why there will be no flight operations.

The critical Situation led Lufthansa to check its replacement flight plans, although it is not part of the tariff conflict. The general manager of the ADV, Beisel, also expressed that an entire country was cut off from air traffic, and the Federal Association of German Air Transport industry described the warning strikes as disproportionate.

Overall, it can be seen that no movement in the negotiations can be expected without pressure due to industrial action, according to Deputy Verdi Chairman Behle. The union has announced the strike in advance to give passengers a planning security. The affected passengers are asked to show understanding and to find out more about possible reimbursement rights or alternative transport options directly from the airlines.