Frankfurt airport strikes to continue until weekend

FRANKFURT - Reuters

Passengers rest on chairs at the main terminal of Frankfurt airport yesterday. REUTERS photo

Strikes at Frankfurt airport, Germany’s largest, will continue until the weekend, the GdF union, resulting in more flight cancellations and delays.

Just under 200 apron control workers, such as those who guide aircraft to parking places, are striking over a pay dispute with Fraport, which runs the airport.

German carrier Lufthansa has already cancelled hundreds of daily flights because of the walkouts, which started on Feb 16.

The latest walkout started at 5 a.m. on Feb. 20 and was due to continue until 5 a.m. today. It will now be extended to 11 p.m. on Feb. 24, the union said yesterday.

Frankfurt, Europe’s third-largest airport in terms of passenger numbers, usually has around 1,300 flights per day.

Flights do not take off or land between 11 p.m and 5 a.m. due to a night flight ban.

Fraport said more than 80 percent of the flights took off on Feb. 20. It estimated 187 flight cancellations so far out of a total 1,200 scheduled for yesterday, meaning almost 85 percent of services could still run.