Half of all Munich flights cancelled due to strike
More than half of all flights at the Munich Airport were cancelled on Wednesday due to the strike by Lufthansa ground staff.
Around 400 departures and landings of the 730 or so flights normally operated by all airlines were affected, the airport announced.
These were almost exclusively flights operated by Lufthansa and its partners. Terminal 1, which operates airlines not associated with Lufthansa, was operating normally.
The Verdi trade union also called on ground staff in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin and Dusseldorf to go on strike. Lufthansa cancelled between 80% and 90% of its 1,000 scheduled flights. More than 100,000 passengers had to reschedule.
In Munich, only between 10& and 20% of Lufthansa flights were taking place, an airport spokesperson said.
According to Verdi, around 800 employees in Munich took part in the strikes, which are due to end after the night shift on Thursday morning.
Heinrich Birner, the Verdi managing director responsible for the Munich region, had demanded a better offer from Lufthansa in the third round of negotiations, and warned that the union was "definitely gearing up for further strikes."
Verdi wants 12.5% more pay, but at least €500 euros per month for a period of one year. In addition, there is to be a group-wide inflation bonus of €3,000. Lufthansa refers to past wage increases and has offered 13% more pay and an inflation bonus for a period of three years.
