Europe travel: More UAE flights cancelled as workers’ strikes hit 13 German airports

DUBAI: A one-day strike by workers at 13 German airports, including the hyper-busy Frankfurt and Munich hubs and all the country’s other main destinations, has resulted in the cancellation of most flights on Monday.

The 24-hour walkout, which started at midnight, involves public-sector employees at the airports and ground and security staff, reported AP.

UAE flag carrier Etihad has cancelled flights EY121/122 between Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Frankfurt Airport (FRA). 

However, the airline said, “(many) Etihad Airways flights to and from Germany on March 10 are currently operating as scheduled; however, they are subject to disruption due to the planned industrial action.”

Dubai’s flagship carrier, Emirates, issued an update regarding flight disruptions caused by planned industrial action and airport closures in Germany. Several flights to and from Germany have been affected as a result.

The following Emirates flights have been impacted: EK59 (March 9) from Dubai to Hamburg will now land in Hanover, with complimentary bus transfers provided to Hamburg. EK60 (March 9) from Hamburg to Dubai has been cancelled, as well as EK61 (March 9) from Dubai to Hamburg and EK62 (March 9) from Hamburg to Dubai.

EK52 (March 10) from Munich to Dubai is also cancelled, along with EK60 (March 10) from Hamburg to Dubai, Emirates told its customers.  

Emirates operates nearly 40 weekly flights to Germany, covering several major cities. Emirates flight EK62 (Hamburg to Dubai) has been delayed and will operate as EK8062 on March 11. Moreover, EK43 and EK44 (Dubai to/from Frankfurt) have also been cancelled, while EK45 and EK47 (Dubai to/from Frankfurt) will operate as scheduled. EK46 (Frankfurt to Dubai) is cancelled, while EK48 will operate as EK8048 with a delay.

Flights to and from Düsseldorf (EK55, EK56, EK57) will operate as scheduled, with EK58 delayed and operating as EK8058 on March 11.

Passengers affected by cancellations on flights to/from Hamburg must contact their booking agent for rebooking, advised Emirates. The airline said that passengers affected by disruptions to Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and Munich will be automatically rebooked and notified via email.

At Frankfurt Airport, 1,054 of the day’s 1,116 scheduled takeoffs and landings had been cancelled, German news agency dpa reported, citing airport traffic management. All of Berlin Airport’s regular departures and arrivals were cancelled, while Hamburg Airport said no departures would be possible. Cologne/Bonn Airport said there was no regular passenger service, and Munich Airport advised travellers to expect a “greatly reduced flight schedule.”

According to media reports, cancellations at Germany's Hamburg Airport alone affected more than 40,000 passengers on Sunday.

The ver.di service workers union’s strike targeted the Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, Berlin, Duesseldorf, Dortmund, Cologne/Bonn, Leipzig/Halle, Stuttgart and Munich airports. Only security workers were called out at the smaller Weeze and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden airports.