Airberlin forced to cancel 60 flights over ver.di strike

The union ver.di has called for warning strikes tomorrow, Wednesday, amongst ground staff at the airports Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart.

airberlin sees no alternative but to cancel around 60 flights from its hub Berlin-Tegel from 5 a.m. until 11 a.m. The strike will in addition have considerable consequences on all flight traffic. Passengers must reckon with delays, flight cancellations and severe restrictions in term of baggage processing.

Thomas Winkelmann, CEO airberlin: “We’d like to apologise to our passengers for the inconvenience to you arising as a result of the ground staff’s strike. It is extremely unfortunate that this wages dispute – which has nothing to do with airberlin – will be conducted at the inconvenience of our passengers. airberlin requests that the parties involved return to the negotiating table as quickly as possible.”

Passengers affected by a cancelled flight due to the strike can rebook free of charge on the same route within the travel period from 9 February 2017 to 15 February 2017. For passengers whose flight is part of a package deal, please contact your respective trip organiser or your travel agent directly.

airberlin passengers whose flights are currently not affected by a cancellation are requested to allow for extensive waiting times at airports. There may be further flight cancellations, so passengers are asked to stay regularly updated on the status of their flight: airberlin.com/flugstatus, or via the free hotline set up: 00800-57378000.

Additionally, it is recommended that all passengers travel with just hand baggage if possible. Valuables, such as car or house keys, jewellery, laptops and medications should be kept solely in hand baggage.

airberlin regrets the inconveniences possibly arising as a result of this strike by ground staff, and will endeavour to reduce the effects on its passengers as much as possible.