More than 3,400 flights will have to be cancelled due to strikes expected at 11 German airports on Monday, according to an initial estimate by airport association ADV, predicting some 510,000 travellers will be affected.
“Striking at 11 locations at the same time is a new dimension,” asid ADV managing director Ralph Beisel on Friday, hours after the trade union announced the industrial action at major transport hubs including Germany’s Frankfurt and Munich airports.
Beisel said the strikes were a nightmare for affected passengers, citing “far-reaching consequences for individual mobility and economic processes.”
The strikes come amid an ongoing wage dispute for public sector workers which already to led to cancellations at major German airports last month.
Some 800,000 passengers have faced disruptions due to collective bargaining negotiations so far, according to ADV.
Joachim Lang, managing director at German aviation association BDL called Monday’s strikes disproportionate.
“An entire industry is being shut down across the board, even though airports and airlines, as well as restaurants, retailers and hotels, are not parties to the collective agreement,” he said.
Lang called for new strike regulations in the critical infrastructure sector.
