Strikes Ground German Airports, Disrupting Thousands of Passengers' Plans

Munich and Hamburg airports in Germany were severely affected by strikes organized by the public sector union Verdi, leading to about 80% of flights being canceled. The strikes disrupted travel plans for approximately 300,000 passengers, with similar walk-outs also taking place in Duesseldorf and Cologne earlier in the week.

FRANKFURT, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The ongoing strikes at Germany's Munich and Hamburg airports have led to significant disruptions, with airlines forced to cancel nearly 80% of flights in Munich. As Germany's second-largest hub, Munich airport warned of further potential cancellations, advising travelers to consult their airlines.

The strikes, organized by the public sector union Verdi, are part of a larger wave of walk-outs across Germany, linked to wage negotiations that commenced in January. The strikes at Hamburg involve not only the airport's operator but also workers in maintenance, IT, security, and baggage handling services.

According to the German airport association ADV, these strikes, along with others in Duesseldorf and Cologne, have affected the travel plans of almost 300,000 passengers. ADV criticized the scale of the strikes, which effectively isolated several German metropolitan regions from international air travel, as being excessively disruptive beyond typical demonstrations.