Air and rail traffic in Germany was faced with numerous problems today due to the simultaneous strikes of train drivers, airport workers and ground handling workers.
Frankfurt International Airport, Germany’s busiest, was completely closed to departing passengers as security staff staged a strike over a dispute over pay and working conditions.
German airline Lufthansa has canceled hundreds of flights due to a strike by ground staff at the country’s main airports, including airports in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.
Lufthansa said it had to cancel about 80 percent of flights scheduled for Thursday and Friday because of the two-day strike and advised passengers to check flight status before traveling to the airport.
For many passengers, making alternative arrangements was not possible today as train services were disrupted due to a 35-hour strike by train drivers. Regional and commuter rail services are also significantly affected.
The strike by train drivers on passenger trains began at 2 a.m. local time and is expected to last until 1 p.m. Friday.
National rail operator Deutsche Bahn announced that it had launched an emergency plan, but almost 80 percent of intercity train services had to be canceled.
The GDL union and “Deutsche Bahn” have been negotiating for months to reach a new collective agreement, AA writes.
