A massive 24-hour strike by airport service workers, ground staff, and aviation security personnel has paralyzed air travel across Germany, with operations at major airports coming to a near standstill.
The strike, organized by the powerful Verdi trade union, is part of a broader dispute over wage increases and improved working conditions for nearly 2.5 million public sector workers.
Airport workers demonstrate during a 24-hour strike at Berlin airport called by the German trade union Verdi over a wage dispute in Berlin, Germany March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
Major Disruptions at Airports Nationwide
According to Deutsche Welle, workers staged a sudden, unannounced walkout at Hamburg Airport on Sunday, after just 10 flights had departed in the morning. Nearly 300 flights were canceled, affecting over 40,000 passengers. Many travelers who had already checked in their luggage struggled to retrieve it, according to public broadcaster NDR.
The strike has since expanded to major German hubs including Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, and Leipzig-Halle.
At Frankfurt Airport, 1,054 out of 1,116 scheduled takeoffs and landings were canceled, according to German news agency dpa. Meanwhile, Berlin Airport saw all regular departures and arrivals canceled, and Hamburg Airport suspended all outgoing flights.
Airport workers demonstrate at the Frankfurt Airport during a 24-hour strike called by the German trade union Verdi over a wage dispute in Frankfurt, Germany March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch
The ADV airport association estimated that the strikes have affected around 510,000 travelers, with Lufthansa warning of extensive delays and cancellations across its network.
A spokesperson for Hamburg Airport condemned the surprise action, saying it unfairly punished travelers during spring holiday travel season.
Verdi, however, defended its approach, stating that short-notice strikes were necessary to maximize pressure on employers.
A passenger walks past boards displaying information on cancelled flights at the Frankfurt Airport during a 24-hour strike called by the German trade union Verdi over a wage dispute in Frankfurt, Germany March 10, 2025. REUTERS/Jana Rodenbusch
What’s Behind the Strike?
Verdi is demanding an 8% pay increase (or at least €350 ($380) per month), higher bonuses, and three additional vacation days for workers, according to Reuters. The federal government and local municipalities have rejected these demands as financially unviable.
The union has staged several strikes in recent months, with Monday’s action marking an escalation following the collapse of a second round of pay talks. The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Friday in Potsdam.
