A Verdi union strike on Wednesday grounded all passenger flights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) for the entire day.
The walkout began early in the morning and was scheduled to run until midnight, Verdi negotiator Holger Rössler said. Terminals remained largely empty as airlines informed passengers in advance, rebooking flights or offering alternative travel options, a spokesperson for the airport operator said.
The operator reported about 445 flights affected, impacting roughly 57,000 passengers. A small number of travelers did turn up at the airport unaware of the action.
Around 2,000 employees participated in the strike, including staff from fire services, air traffic control and terminal management. Some services such as ground handling and security checks are run by external providers not involved in the strike, but these were not enough to maintain flight operations.
The union is asking for a salary increase of 6% or at least €250 per month and an extra day off for members. Employers presented an initial offer in the second round of talks last week, which Verdi said was insufficient.
The airport operator criticized the strike as disproportionate, citing already strained conditions linked to the Iran war. BER CEO Aletta von Massenbach said she was confident an agreement could be reached at the next round of talks scheduled for March 25. Berlin Transport Senator Ute Bonde urged both sides to move closer and resolve the dispute quickly.
The union is asking for a salary increase of 6% or at least €250
Image: Marvin Zubrod/dpa/picture alliance
