More than 100,000 passengers are expected to be affected by the flight cancellations, as a 48-hour warning strike by security staff at Germany’s four airports has grounded most flights.

A 48-hour work stoppage began last night at the airports of Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn and Düsseldorf, after security guards affiliated with the Union of the United Services Industry (Ver.di) failed to reach an agreement in the negotiations to increase their wages with employers.

The German Airport Association (ADV) claimed that the strike, aimed at cutting off large areas of national and international air traffic, went far beyond what was acceptable and was completely inappropriate.

ADV announced that 700 flights will likely be canceled at airports due to the work stoppage, which will affect more than 100,000 passengers.

Ver.di also urged security guards to stand down at Stuttgart airport on Friday. It is not clear how many flights will be canceled at this airport.

STRIKE WAVE IN GERMANY

It should be noted that the strike wave has spread in recent months as workers demand higher wages to offset the rising cost of living with unusually high inflation in Germany.

The German Business Union for Mining, Chemical and Energy (IG BCE) and Ver.di called private sector workers in the energy field for a one-day collective warning strike today, demanding higher wages against high inflation .

On the other hand, the warning strike led by Ver.di and the German Railway Workers’ Union (EVG) on March 27 in the transport sector had paralyzed most plane, train and bus services, paralyzing transport in the country. (AA)