As of: March 7, 2024 6:27 a.m
Ver.di is intensifying the planned warning strike in air traffic. In parallel with the strike by Lufthansa ground staff, the union is also calling on aviation security forces in Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt to stop work today. While the Lufthansa ground staff are scheduled to strike until Saturday at 7:10 a.m., the aviation security people are only called on for today.
Hamburg Airport has therefore canceled all 141 departures for today. Some incoming flights from Munich, Frankfurt and European cities are also affected. Helmut Schmidt Airport announced in advance that some of the planes would still take off – without passengers. This is necessary to avoid further disruptions to air traffic. Check-in the evening before is not possible today.
Originally, 284 flights – 141 take-offs and 143 landings – with around 36,000 passengers were planned. The airport is expecting a lot of rebookings for Friday, so busy flights can be expected.
No departures from Frankfurt today either
Passengers are also not allowed to fly out of Düsseldorf and Frankfurt Airport today due to the warning strike by the aviation security forces. Because of the lack of controls, no passengers could enter Frankfurt Airport from the landside, a spokesman for the operator Fraport said on Wednesday. The company recommends that passengers contact their airlines and under no circumstances come to the airport. The impact on the flight schedule initially remained unclear, as at least aircraft will continue to land in Frankfurt and passengers will also transfer from there.
Airport spokesman: “Strike is unfair”
The aviation security forces called to strike today by ver.di are employed by private companies that check passengers, staff and luggage at the entrances to the security area on behalf of the Federal Police. “This new ver.di strike is unfair because it hits uninvolved people hard – especially thousands of travelers, many of whom have saved for a long time for their vacation or who had to switch to flights because of the rail strike that was taking place at the same time,” said an airport spokesman.
Lufthansa ground staff are to go on strike for two days
On Monday, the union had already called on all Lufthansa ground staff to go on strike today and tomorrow. The warning strike by Lufthansa ground staff began at 4 a.m. in the areas near passengers and is scheduled to end at 7:10 a.m. on Saturday. Because of the strike, several flights in Hamburg will also be canceled on Friday. Connections to and from Frankfurt and Munich are affected. Passengers affected by the strike are asked by Hamburg Airport to find out about cancellations and rebooking options from their airline.
No Lufthansa flights in Hanover
There will be no Lufthansa flights at Hanover airport today or tomorrow. “As with previous strikes, all Lufthansa connections to and from Munich and Frankfurt have been canceled on Thursday and Friday,” a spokeswoman for the airport explained in advance.
Collective bargaining dispute affects 25,000 ground workers
In the ongoing collective bargaining dispute for around 25,000 ground workers, there have already been two waves of warning strikes, each of which paralyzed passenger traffic for around a day. Last week, ver.di went on strike at Lufthansa parts of the company’s technology and cargo handling departments in order to force an improved offer from the company. So far the next round is scheduled for March 13th and 14th. ver.di is only willing to hold earlier discussions if the offer is increased.
Lufthansa outraged
Lufthansa reacted angrily to the strike announcement and criticized ver.di’s preconditions for returning to the negotiating table. The group therefore questioned the collective bargaining as a whole. Ver.di negotiator Marvin Reschinsky regretted the impact on passengers in a statement: “In the past few days we have deliberately skipped passenger traffic with our strikes. However, by ignoring our request to negotiate, Lufthansa is telling us that it will only move when the Pressure continues to increase. Passengers urgently need solutions and reliability. The employees and we are ready to make this happen with a serious offer.”
Further information
