Monday, 10 March
No take-offs, no landings: Warning strike paralyses BER airport
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) has come to a complete standstill as a 24-hour warning strike by the Verdi union halts all departures and arrivals. The strike, which began at 03:30 this morning, involves ground handling staff and other public sector employees, leaving some 67,000 passengers stranded.
It’s not just Berlin feeling the impact – Verdi has called for strikes at 11 major German airports, including Frankfurt, Munich and Düsseldorf. According to an estimate by the airport association ADV, more than 3,400 flights are expected to be cancelled nationwide, affecting an estimated 510,000 passengers.
The work freeze is part of an ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions for public sector and ground service workers. Verdi argues that the disruption is necessary to push for fair wages ahead of the next round of negotiations in mid-March. Meanwhile, industry voices are calling for stricter rules on strikes in critical infrastructure.
Normal flight operations at BER are expected to resume Tuesday morning. In the meantime, affected travelers are advised to check with their airlines for rebooking options or alternative travel options.
