Emirates flights to Munich and Athens disrupted due to workers’ strike

Dubai: Dubai’s flagship carrier, Emirates, announced late Wednesday that it is cancelling flights to Munich Airport in Germany and Athens Airport in Greece due to planned workers' strikes.

A trade union strike will affect operations at Munich Airport on Thursday, February 27, and Friday, February 28. Meanwhile, air traffic control (ATC) personnel in Greece, participating in a general strike organized by the Supreme Administration of Greek Civil Servants Trade Union (ADEDY), will halt operations at Athens Airport on Friday, February 28, 2025, making it unavailable for commercial flights.

“Industrial action will take place in Munich on Thursday and Friday. This will have a significant impact on Munich (MUC) airport operations,” the airline notified passengers on its website.

Emirates operates 14 direct weekly flights between Dubai and Munich, averaging two flights daily.

Flight EK049, departing from Dubai to Munich on Thursday, will operate as per the published schedule. Flight EK050 departing from Munich can expect significant delays.

However, flights EK051 and EK052 operating to and from Dubai to Munich on February 27 have been cancelled.  

Flight EK049, departing from Dubai on February 28, will operate as per the published schedule, and the return flight can expect delays. Similarly, flights EK051 and EK052 operating to and from Dubai to Munich on February 28 have also been cancelled.  

“Passengers travelling to and from Munich on February 27,28 can choose to either rebook flights to travel at an earlier time or travel to and from an alternative airport within the same region on Emirates flights,” the carrier said.  

Travellers have been asked to contact their booking agents if they would like to travel earlier or to and from Frankfurt or Hamburg. Airport authorities at Munich have said the airlines operating at the airport will likely cancel most of the estimated 1,600 flight connections planned for the two days.

Emirates has adjusted its flight schedule for EK209 on February 28 due to planned industrial action in Greece. The flight will now operate directly from Dubai to Newark, with a new departure time from Dubai at 11.30 am. The segment from Athens to Newark has been cancelled, and the flights EK209 (Dubai to Athens) and EK209 (Athens to Newark) are cancelled.

The itinerary of flight EK210 from Newark to Athens to Dubai on February 27 is as follows: the flight will depart Newark at 08:45 am on February 28, arriving in Athens at 1 am on March 1. The departure from Athens will be at 3 am on March 1, and the arrival back in Dubai will be at 9:25 am on the same day. Passengers affected by these changes have been advised to check with Emirates for rebooking options.