GROUNDED
More flights cancelled across Europe as thousands of passengers told to ‘stay home’
Three airports have been forced to close
HUNDREDS more flights have been cancelled due to further strike action plaguing European airports.
Earlier this week, Finnair confirmed that hundreds of flights were being cancelled due to strikes across Finland.
3
3
And now German airports have been affected by strike action, leading to even more flight cancellations.
Security staff are walking out for 24 hours today, in demand of better pay.
A statement issued by union Verdi warned: "There is already a shortage of qualified workers who are willing to work extremely flexibly at the airports around the clock, on weekends and on public holidays - security in air traffic does not come for free.”
There will be no flights departing from Frankfurt, Hamburg and Berlin Brandenburg Airport today.
Read more on cancelled flights
Passengers will not be able to access the departure area or security at the airport.
Other airports affected by huge cancellations and delays are Bremen, Dresden and Leipzig, with only Munich Airport not affected.
Already cancelled are 126 departing flights at Hamburg, and around 170 at Berlin Brandenburg - affecting more than 50,000 passengers.
More than 20 UK flights, mainly British Airways and easyJet have been cancelled, including:
Most read in News Travel
- 10:20am from Hamburg to London Heathrow
- 1:45pm Hamburg to London Heathrow
- 3:25pm Hamburg to London Heathrow
- 5:55pm Hamburg to London Heathrow
- 6:50pm Hamburg to London Heathrow
- 11:55am from Berlin to London City
- 2:10pm from Berlin to London City
- 5pm from Berlin to London City
- 8:15pm from Berlin to London City
- 11:05am from Berlin to London Heathrow
- 12:30pm from Berlin to London Heathrow
- 2pm from Berlin to London Heathrow
- 4:30pm from Berlin to London Heathrow
- 7:35pm from Berlin to London Heathrow
- 11pm from Berlin to Manchester
- 11:25am from Frankfurt to London Heathrow
- 12pm from Frankfurt to London Heathrow
- 4pm from Frankfurt to London Heathrow
- 4:15pm from Frankfurt to London City
- 5:15pm from Frankfurt to London City
- 5:45pm from Frankfurt to London Heathrow
- 8:10pm from Frankfurt to London City
In response, German flag carrier Lufthansa has warned passengers to "stay at home" and not go to the airport.
A statement on the website reads: "Passengers can expect considerable restrictions at security checkpoints.
"We strongly recommend that guests who wish to start their flight at Frankfurt, Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin, Leipzig, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Hanover, Stuttgart and Dresden on February 1 do not come to the airport."
And airline Eurowings said that they expect "massive disruptions" throughout the day.
Brits who are affected by the cancellations will be offered a refund or an alternative flight, while domestic passengers can switch to travel by train for free.
It's not just Germany being affected by strike action.
Finnish workers have walked out today, lasting until tomorrow, affecting hundreds of flights.
Finnair confirmed that 550 flights were cancelled, with more than 60,000 passengers affected.
A number of London Heathrow to Helsinki flights today have been cancelled.
Six airports have been forced to close too, including Joensuu, Kajaani, Kemi-Tornio, Kokkola-Pietarsaari, Pori and Savonlinna.
And earlier this month, Spanish airline Iberia cancelled 460 flights earlier this month due to a four-day walkout.
More than 45,000 passengers were affected, with around 22 UK flights cancelled.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
While you can usually claim compensation if your flight is cancelled, strike action is seen as an "extraordinary circumstance" meaning airlines are not obligated to offer any.
This also includes any extreme weather.
3
Topics