Will Germany’s Travel Chaos Continue? Massive Flight Cancellations Due to Strikes

Thousands of flights across Germany are being cancelled, affecting over 500,000 passengers as airport workers go on strike. The airline Lufthansa has confirmed major delays and cancellations across all its flights, while Munich Airport has warned of a heavily reduced schedule.

At Hamburg Airport, all 143 Monday departures were cancelled. Officials criticized the strike, calling it "unfair" to travelers. However, the Verdi union, which organized the strike, said it was necessary to push for better pay. The union is demanding an 8% salary increase or at least €350 more per month. However the employers claim these demands are too expensive.

Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, has already cancelled many of its 1,770 scheduled flights, while most of Munich’s 820 flights are also expected to be grounded. Other airports, including Stuttgart, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Berlin and Hanover, are facing similar chaos. Some passengers who had already checked in their luggage are struggling to get it back.

Beyond the airports, Verdi has also called for strikes in waste collection services in cities like Berlin, Essen and Kiel, leaving trash bins overflowing for days. More strikes are expected throughout the week in government-run facilities.

The next round of negotiations between the union and employers is set for Friday in Potsdam, but until then, travel disruptions could continue.