Strikes at Berlin's two airports caused 660 flights to be cancelled on Monday as part of an ongoing pay dispute with ground staff.
"At Berlin Schoenefeld, 195 flights were canceled and at Berlin Tegel 465 flights," Berlin Airport spokesman Daniel Tolksdorf said on Monday, adding that this amounted to almost all flights being cancelled.
Workers at Berlin's Tegel and Schoenefeld airports are striking from 4 am local time (0300 GMT, 7am Dubai) on Monday until Tuesday at about 5 am local time (0400 GMT, 8am Dubai), German Union Verdi said.
The union wants an increase in pay for ground staff to 12 euros ($12.80) an hour from about 11 euros as part of a one-year collective agreement.
Management first offered about 10 cents more an hour over four years and then improved that offer to an 8 percent increase over three years.
As well as Lufthansa, carriers including Air Berlin, easyJet and Ryanair serve the two airports.
Strike extended
Berlin's airports look set to remain paralyzed on Tuesday after ground staff extended a strike, stepping up pressure in a dispute over pay that has already caused the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights since Friday.
Ground staff at Berlin's two airports started their latest walkout on Monday morning after a break over the weekend.
The trade union Verdi said earlier the strike would be extended until Wednesday morning.
The walkout at Tegel and Schoenefeld airports — which are served by airlines including Air Berlin, Ryanair, easyJet and Lufthansa — led to the cancellation of 660 flights on Monday, virtually all the flights due to use the airports.
On Friday, 670 flights were canceled.
Airlines were bracing for similar levels of cancellations on Tuesday. EasyJet said it was cancelling 49 flights and diverting others to Dresden airport. Air Berlin will transfer some passengers to Hanover to catch flights.
Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller was among those whose travel plans were disrupted, having to fly to Moscow via Dresden instead. Air Berlin said the strike was costing the industry millions of euros a day, but that it was too early to give an exact figure.
The strike is due to end on Wednesday at 0500 CET (0400 GMT). While ground staff are ready to engage in talks to end the strike if Berlin airports make an improved offer, they could also decide to extend the walkout if no new offer is made.
"It may well be that early tomorrow morning we say we will continue the strike on Wednesday. It's a 50:50 chance," Enrico Ruemker, who heads the strikes for Verdi, told Reuters.
