Strikes at Two Major German Airports Cause Hundreds of Flight Cancellations

Strikes by public sector employees at two major German airports have led to hundreds of flight cancellations on Monday.

Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) and Düsseldorf International Airport (DUS) are both experiencing significant flight delays and cancellations due to walkouts by members of the Verdi trade union. The union represents airport workers, including those in check-in, baggage handling, and passenger and crew transportation.

As of midday Monday, according to FlightAware:

• Cologne Bonn (CGN): 20% of outbound flights canceled, 2% delayed; 10% of inbound flights canceled, 6% delayed.
• Düsseldorf International (DUS): 20% of outbound flights canceled, 3% delayed; 21% of inbound flights canceled, 5% delayed.

The strike is expected to continue through Monday evening at Cologne Bonn and into Monday night at Düsseldorf. The airports, which are two of the 10 busiest airports in Germany by passenger volume, are both telling passengers to check with their airline before heading to either airport.

“The Verdi union has called on employees at Düsseldorf Airport to go on a warning strike on Monday, Feb. 24, from 3 a.m. This will lead to severe disruptions in flight operations. Please check with your airline or tour operator for the status of your flight before traveling to the airport,” Düsseldorf International said in its warning.

Verdi is pushing for pay increases and bonuses for its members and Monday’s strike is a “warning strike” for the union. If negotiations do not lead to a resolution, the union has warned that members will stage a nationwide strike across Germany starting March 14, which could cause even greater disruptions.