Three German airports are affected by strikes on Thursday 20 April and Friday 21 April. At Hamburg Airport alone, the strike is expected to affect 80,000 passengers.
The airports in Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Köln-Bonn in Cologne will be affected by delays and cancelations on Thursday and Friday as a result of the strike among the security staff.
The German trade union, Verdi, called for all-day warning strikes on Thursday and Friday for employees within aviation security in Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Cologne/Bonn airports.
According to Reuters, the airport in Hamburg will cancel all departures on Thursday and Friday or fly from the airport without passengers.
Domestic and international flights will be affected by the strikes
There is a risk of longer waiting times, including flight delays or cancellations at the three German airports.
In total, around 700 flights will be canceled and more than 80,000 travelers on both domestic and international flights will be affected.
As in previous cases, disruptions to air traffic at other airports cannot be excluded as a result of the strike.
Meanwhile, Hamburg Airport has announced that all departures on Thursday and Friday would be canceled due to the strike.
Düsseldorf Airport asks passengers to limit their carry-on luggage to a minimum in order to speed up screening at security.
Passengers who have booked a flight on Thursday or Friday are encouraged to check with their airline or tour operator about the status of their flight before arriving at the airport.
German train workers strike during rush hour on Friday
The German train operation will also be affected by the strike. The railway and transport union, EVG, has called for a nationwide strike on Friday 21 April. The strike will last from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m., and not a single train will run in that period.
EVG represents 230,000 employees in around 50 transport companies. The union is demanding a 12 percent pay increase or a minimum of €650 per month, for its 230,000 members to compensate for rising inflation and cost of living.
The staffs of the German state railways, Deutsche Bahn, are among those on striker. Deutsche Bahn operates long-distance trains, as well as S-Bahn services and regional trains in Germany.
Travelers and commuters should expect delays throughout the day.
According to EVG board member, Cosima Ingenschay, the purpose of the short notice for the strike is to “encourage employers to bring reasonable offers” during wage negotiations.
“If that does not happen, then we will have to think about even bigger strikes,” she said.
The most recent strike on 27 March 2023 paralyzed large parts of Germany’s transport sector, including airports, for 24 hours. Back then it was EVG and Verdi who together called for a strike.
You may be entitled to compensation
Passengers experiencing delays as a result of the strikes may be entitled to compensation – whether for food, new tickets or accommodation. Therefore, make sure to save receipts for any unexpected costs.
At Travelrefund, we do everything we can to help passengers get their rights recognized. You can always contact us if you have any questions or are in doubt about anything.
Also read about airline strike – your rights if the flight is canceled or delayed.