The 24-hour protest organized by the Verdi union forced LOT Polish Airlines to suspend 13 flights. At Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe's largest, only one in twenty flights took off, often empty.
The workers are demanding an 8% pay raise and 30 days of annual vacation. The protest affected major airports like Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin, as well as smaller regional ones.
Flight cancellations and delays across Europe
At Weeze Airport, located about 70 km from the German-Dutch border, a demonstration was held to avoid confrontation with disappointed passengers, as some flights departed empty.
Many planes had to take off to reposition themselves for scheduled flights the following day.
Passengers are unlikely to receive compensation for delayed or canceled flights due to the strike, as labor protests are typically considered an external cause, exempting airlines from compensation obligations, according to tourism market expert Paweł Kunz, as reported by IAR.
Strike at German airports to affect over half a million passengers
It is estimated that over half a million passengers will be affected, with thousands of flights cancelled, due to a 24-hour strike at major airports across Germany on Monday, after the Verdi trade union called for a walkout.
(m p)
Source: IAR/PAP