Brakes on Berlin: Airport Strikes Halt Air Traffic

Air traffic at Berlin's Brandenburg Airport came to an abrupt stop on Wednesday as the Verdi service workers' union commenced a full-day strike over a pay dispute. The strike affected approximately 57,000 passengers, causing 445 scheduled departures and arrivals to be canceled.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport, a significant hub in Germany serving around 25 million passengers annually, was significantly impacted by this strike. Verdi is actively negotiating higher wages for roughly 2,000 employees, including those in critical roles such as fire department staff, air traffic control, and terminal management.

The strike precedes another round of planned negotiations set for March 25. The airport's CEO has criticized the strike, deeming it "disproportionate" amidst heightened tensions stemming from the ongoing Iran war.