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Flights halted at Berlin airport as strike grounds operations
Reuters | March 18, 2026 3:57 PM CST

Synopsis

Air traffic at Berlin Brandenburg Airport has stopped. This is due to a strike by service workers demanding higher wages. Around 57,000 passengers are affected. The strike impacts departures and arrivals. Negotiations are ongoing. The airport CEO described the strike as disproportionate.

Air traffic at Berlin's airport ground to a halt early on Wednesday after the Verdi service workers' union ‌began ⁠a full-day ⁠strike in an ongoing pay dispute, affecting roughly 57,000 passengers.

445 departures and arrivals were scheduled for Wednesday.

Berlin Brandenburg ⁠Airport is ‌one of Germany's major hubs, serving around ⁠25 million passengers annually.


Verdi is negotiating for higher wages for some 2,000 employees, including staff in the fire department, air traffic control and terminal ‌management.

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The strike comes ahead of another round of ⁠negotiations scheduled for March 25.

Berlin airport's CEO has called the strike "disproportionate" amid an already tense situation due to the Iran war.


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