On Friday, passengers were going to experience more problems due to strikes by airport security personnel at six German airports.
Trade union Verdi's call for more strikes by airport security staff at several German airports was expected to impact thousands of passengers.
Employees in Hanover started striking late on Thursday.
Verdi is aiming to increase pressure on employers before the next round of negotiations on March 20.
Strikes at five other German airports essentially halted operations on Thursday.
Airports in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, and Cologne/Bonn were affected on Thursday.
All departures were canceled at the airports because passengers and goods could no longer pass through security checks.
There were also numerous canceled landings.
More than 580 flights were estimated to be canceled on Thursday, according to the airport association ADV.
The association anticipates a significantly lower number of canceled flights on Friday.
Unions are currently using a series of strikes to impact air traffic, leading to varying levels of disruptions for passengers.
Lufthansa is particularly affected.
The collective bargaining for aviation security concerns the working conditions of approximately 25,000 employees of private security service providers who perform security checks on behalf of Germany’s Federal Police.
Verdi is demanding an hourly wage increase of €2.80 ($3.05) phased in over 12 months, along with quicker overtime bonuses.
According to the Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS), they have offered an increase of 2.70 euros per hour in three stages, which will raise monthly wages by €432 to €470.
The collective agreement is set to last for 24 months.
A sixth round of negotiations with Verdi is scheduled for March 20.
Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft (stylized as Verdi in English) is a German trade union based in Berlin, Germany.
It was formed on March 19, 2001, following the merger of five individual unions and is affiliated with the German Trade Union Confederation.
Germans faced additional travel disruptions over the weekend as train drivers announced a new 24-hour stoppage, following a strike announcement by Lufthansa cabin crew.
(NAN)
