Germany airport strikes grounds more than 640 flights

More than 640 flights in Germany were cancelled on Thursday (January 10) due to security staff strikes. The strike centres on airports in western Germany: Düsseldorf (the country's third-largest), Cologne-Bonn and Stuttgart.

Out of 1,054 scheduled flights in total, 643 were cancelled, the airports said, adding that many of its passengers which average 115,000 per day, would be affected, with significant delays at security checkpoints.

Local media reports say many travellers had time to make alternative arrangements, as the strike had been announced in advance. Security staff are reported to be very angry at their working conditions.

Public sector union Verdi said it was negotiating on behalf of 23,000 security workers in Germany. Wage talks are to resume on January 23, it said. The union has demanded a pay increase to €20 per hour before tax.

On Monday, a strike at Berlin's Schoenefeld and Tegel airports had caused delays and flight cancellations.