Hamburg Airport’s sudden strike action has grounded almost all flights to and from Germany, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. The union Verdi is demanding better wages, but the exact reasons behind the strike remain unclear.
Almost all flights to and from Germany’s Hamburg Airport were canceled on Sunday due to a strike by airport workers without prior notice, the airport operator said. Out of 144 arrivals and 139 departures scheduled for Sunday, only ’10 early morning flights had run to schedule.’
Located approximately 9 kilometers north of Hamburg's city center, Hamburg Airport (HAM) is a significant air transportation hub in Germany.
With over 16 million passengers annually, it ranks among the country's busiest airports.
The airport serves as a base for several airlines, including Lufthansa and easyJet.
Hamburg Airport offers an extensive range of services, including free Wi-Fi, numerous dining options, and a variety of shopping facilities.
The remaining flights have been canceled, forcing passengers to be left stranded. Many passengers had already checked in their luggage but were unable to retrieve it due to the sudden walkout. The airport spokesperson told DPA news agency that ‘for this reason, the airport is closed with immediate effect.’
Impact of the Strike
The strike was part of a wider dispute over wages and was called by the union Verdi at around a dozen German airports on Monday. The affected airports include Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt (Main), Cologne-Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin-Brandenburg, and Leipzig-Halle.
In 1913, Italian opera singer and composer Giuseppe Verdi's family estate was involved in a labor dispute.
The Verdi Strike took place on the estate, where workers were fighting for better wages and working conditions.
The strike lasted several days, with workers occupying the estate's buildings.
Eventually, the dispute was resolved, but not before it drew attention to the struggles of rural Italian workers during this period.
More than 510,000 travelers could see delays or cancelations of their flights, according to the airport association ADV. An estimated 3,400 flights are expected to be canceled on Monday. The walkout was originally due to start late Sunday evening and continue until late Monday.
Reason Behind the Strike
A Verdi spokesman told DW that ‘the walkout was necessary so that the impact of the strike could really be felt.’ This suggests that the union is trying to put pressure on the government to address their wage demands. The exact reasons behind the sudden cancellation of flights at Hamburg Airport are still unclear, but it is evident that passengers have been severely affected by the strike.
- dw.com | Germany: Hamburg airport cancels flights over sudden strike
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