BERLIN: A strike by ground crew workers at Berlin’s two commercial airports has been extended until Wednesday, the Verdi union announced.
The initial strike over pay by around 2,000 workers had been called until Tuesday.
The walkout began at 4 am (0300 GMT) on Monday and affects both of the German capital’s airports — Schoenefeld in the south-east and Tegel in the north-west.
It will now last until around 5 am (0400 GMT) on Wednesday.
At Tegel, 465 flights are expected to stay grounded on Monday while at Schoenefeld, 195 flights are due to be cancelled, a spokesman for the two airports said.
“We are asking all passengers to check with their airline about the status of their flight before they start their trip,” a statement on a website for the airports said.
Passengers due to land in Berlin have also been affected.
Airlines are re-routing some flights to the eastern German cities of Dresden and Leipzig, with Easyjet landing at the former and Ryanair the latter. Passengers are then being bussed to Berlin, two hours away.
Berlin’s mayor Michael Mueller, who was due to make a three-day trip to Moscow, also had his journey interrupted. A replacement flight for the mayor was organised from Dresden airport.
An earlier strike on Friday caused hundreds of flight cancellations in Berlin.
“The Verdi strikes mean our capital Berlin has been completely cut off to air travel for days. Not only are the airports being damaged but also the image of Germany,” said airport association chief Ralph Beisel.
Trade union Verdi is pushing for a pay increase and better working hours for its members, arguing that their workload is increasing given the growing number of passengers at Berlin’s ageing airports and a greater focus on security.
Strike leader Enrico Ruemker said he was waiting for a new offer from management.
A new combined airport for Berlin near Schoenefeld is expected to open in 2019 after years of delays and wrangling. — dpa
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