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Lufthansa strike causes travel turmoil in Germany

Lufthansa passengers faced massive travel disruption Wednesday as a strike led the German airline group to cancel almost all its flights from its domestic hubs in Frankfurt and Munich.

Passengers at Frankfurt airport on Wednesday during the strike.
Passengers at Frankfurt airport on Wednesday during the strike. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Frank Rumpenhorst

Lufthansa axed more than 1,000 flights after the one-day walkout by ground staff was called by the powerful Verdi union earlier in the week.

The stoppage promises to bring more pain to a turbulent summer for air travel across Europe.

Lufthansa had already cancelled thousands of flights over the summer as the airline industry contends with ground-side disruptions.

The relaxation of coronavirus rules has boosted demand, but chronic staff shortages have left passengers facing flight disruptions, long queues and lost luggage.

“Lufthansa reduced its staffing during the (coronavirus) crisis, despite being saved by the taxpayer, and now there are personnel shortages in all corners,” said Verdi Lufthansa representative Marvin Reschinsky.

Strikers stand outside Frankfurt airport.

Strikers stand outside Frankfurt airport. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Frank Rumpenhorst

“We now need financial investments in personnel to make sure air travel is still possible in the future,” he told AFP.

READ ALSO: Flights disrupted across Germany as ground staff strike begins

Participation in the strike was “enormous”, he said, reflecting the financial pressure employees feel from a recent surge in inflation, which
stood at 7.6 percent in Germany last month.

Ground staff had “earned” a raise, said Katharina Horn, a Lufthansa employee.

After two years of the pandemic which battered the industry and led to long work stoppages for employees “all the savings are used up”, she told AFP.

“We would have liked not to have to go out into the streets today. Lufthansa could have avoided that by making a reasonable offer,” she said.

The strike was “wholly unnecessary” and had destroyed the “holiday dreams of more than 100,000 people”, said Lufthansa spokesman, Martin Leutke.

READ ALSO: How the Lufthansa ground crew strikes at German airports could affect you

Lufthansa was seeking to find alternatives for stranded passengers but Leutke warned that the process was “not easy in the peak travel period because all the flights are full”.

“I wanted to go to Tunis but the flight is cancelled,” Adel Zayani said to AFP, adding that he would now have to wait for a flight tomorrow.

The strike was “good for people, workers” who needed to earn money but “not easy” for passengers, said the 56-year-old.

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TRAVEL NEWS

Germany to check passports on Danish border during Euros

Persons travelling from Denmark to Germany during the 2024 European Championships, which begin on Friday, should bring their passport.

Germany to check passports on Danish border during Euros

Passports will be required for travel from Denmark to Germany for the duration of the European football championships, which take place in Germany between June 14th and July 14th. The border controls will be in effect until July 19th.

German authorities have put temporary border controls in place while the tournament is ongoing, the regional police in Southern Denmark have confirmed.

Diversions will be in place at some of the road crossings, notably Frøslev, where signage has been set up to redirect drivers.

READ ALSO: How to watch the Euro 2024 tournament on TV in Denmark

Germany’s Interior Ministry earlier stated that the country’s police had been given the option of using controls on all borders from June 7th. In that statement, the ministry said all travellers should bring passports when entering Germany.

The tournament will see some 500 police officers from other countries assist the German police by patrolling in host cities, and by helping the German Federal Police.

Euro 2024 begins on Friday evening when the hosts face Scotland in Munich. Denmark’s first match is against Slovenia on Sunday.

Denmark carries out spot checks on its side of the border with Germany, as part of temporary security measures that have been used in varying forms since 2016.

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