Hundreds of flights were canceled at major German airports on Thursday as security workers began a one-day strike over a pay dispute.
The strike has canceled more than 1,100 flights at 11 airports, including Frankfurt’s busiest international airport, affecting more than 200,000 passengers.
Frankfurt Airport said the strike would cause major disruption and flight cancellations throughout the day and advised passengers not to come to the airport as security checkpoints were closed.
“Please contact your airline or travel operator for information regarding your flight. Transfer and connecting passengers should also expect major disruptions and delays due to the strike,” the airport said in a statement.
Major disruptions and flight cancellations are also expected at airports in Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Berlin, Cologne/Bonn, Dusseldorf, Leipzig/Halle, Dresden, Erfurt and Stuttgart.
Authorities said security staff at Munich and Nuremberg airports would not join the strike, but flight delays and cancellations could still be possible due to groundings across the country.
The Ver.di union announced a warning strike earlier this week after the third round of collective bargaining with the Federal Association of Aviation Safety Companies (BDLS) failed to produce results.
The union, which represents about 25,000 security workers, is demanding a wage increase of 2.80 euros ($3.02) an hour, increased bonuses and higher overtime rates.
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