A labor strike has commenced across 13 major airports in Germany, significantly disrupting travel for over 510,000 passengers as thousands of flights have been canceled.

The strike, initiated by the Verdi union, began at midnight and is set to last for 24 hours.

Workers from various public service sectors, including airport operators, ground services, and air security, are participating in the action amidst ongoing wage disputes.

The Verdi union is advocating for an eight percent increase in wages, a minimum monthly raise of 350 euros, as well as three additional days off for workers.

As of now, employers have not presented substantial offers during negotiations, which are scheduled to resume on Friday in Potsdam.

This strike also includes air security personnel responsible for passenger screening, baggage handling, and various service roles, with negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement continuing with representatives from the Federal Association of Air Security Companies (BDLS) on March 26 and 27. According to the Airports Association (ADV), more than 3,400 flights are expected to be canceled as a direct result of the strike, severely hampering air traffic across Germany.

Typically, around 6,000 flight maneuvers occur daily at German airports, accompanied by 3,000 overflights in German airspace.

Frankfurt Airport, a pivotal hub, has halted all passenger boarding, leading to anticipated disruptions in transit traffic as well.

On Monday, a total of 1,170 departures and arrivals involving approximately 150,000 passengers were scheduled at Frankfurt.

The airport operator, Fraport, has advised travelers to avoid the terminals.

Airlines, including Lufthansa, are reportedly working to modify their flight schedules to manage the resulting disruptions.

In response to the strike measures, the BDLS criticized the actions as counterproductive, contending that the expanded strike only underscores the excessive nature of union demands in the current negotiations.

BDLS chief negotiator Christian Huber expressed worries about the escalation of the situation, noting that the declared strike actions do not facilitate constructive dialogue.

The strike began early at Hamburg airport on Sunday, with significant flight cancellations also reported at Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Munich during recent strikes associated with ongoing labor disputes.

Joachim Lang, General Manager of the Air Traffic Association (BDL), has criticized the strikes for their disproportionate effects, indicating that they bring entire sectors to a halt and calling for the establishment of new strike regulations within critical infrastructures to alleviate impacts on passengers and related services.