logo
Surprise strike at Hamburg airport a day earlier than expected

Surprise strike at Hamburg airport a day earlier than expected

Euronews09-03-2025

A German trade union had called for strikes at 13 major German airports to take place on Monday - but then staged the strike at Hamburg airport on Sunday.
ADVERTISEMENT
Hamburg Airport in Germany came to a halt on Sunday, a day before trade union ver.di said it would stage strikes at 13 major German airports on Monday.
Out of the 144 arrivals and 139 departures originally planned at Hamburg Airport on Sunday, only 10 flights weren't cancelled in the morning.
Frustrated passengers called the surprise strike "outrageous".
"There was supposed to be a big strike tomorrow, why is it now today?" a traveller said.
The trade union's secretary Lars Stubbe said the unannounced nature of the strike was necessary for the strike to be effective.
"We called the strike at such short notice because our experience with longer-term calls is that the employer tries to break the strike with massive action," Stubbe said.
"Of course, this is a burden for passengers, and our colleagues know that. Nevertheless, they followed the strike call 100%," he added.
The United Services Trade Union (ver.di) has called on employees in the aviation security sector to hold 24-hour warning strikes at 13 major German airports, starting early on Monday morning.
The strikes at the other airports are still supposed go ahead on Monday - but there is no way of knowing whether passengers at any of these airports are in for a nasty surprise later on Sunday if more strikes are called ahead of time.
It is predicted that more than half a million people will not be able to catch their flight on Monday as planned, with more than 3,400 expected flight cancellations, according to German Airports Association ADV.
Many of the cancellations will be at Frankfurt and Munich airports, the two largest in Germany.
In a statement, the union said the strikes are necessary to "improve the working conditions of the approximately 25,000 employees."
"The strike will take place at the airports in Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Weeze, Dortmund, Cologne/Bonn, Leipzig/Halle, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden and Munich," the union confirmed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Eurostar to launch routes to Germany and Switzerland
Eurostar to launch routes to Germany and Switzerland

France 24

time10 hours ago

  • France 24

Eurostar to launch routes to Germany and Switzerland

The new direct routes would open from the early 2030s, in addition to new services from Amsterdam and Brussels to Geneva, the international rail company said. Announced at the back of positive year-end results, Eurostar said in a statement that it would invest two billion euros (£1.6 billion) in the new services to major European cities and 50 new trains, bringing its total fleet to 67 trains. The announcement comes amid "continued demand for international rail travel across Europe", according to Eurostar, which currently operates in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. While it currently has connecting services to Cologne, the new routes will directly serve the German financial capital and global diplomatic hub Geneva. "Our new fleet will make new destinations for customers a reality -- notably direct trains between London and Germany, and between London and Switzerland for the first time. A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here," said Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave. According to the rail company, passenger numbers rose to over 19.5 million in 2024, marking a five percent increase from the previous year. It has a target of ferrying 30 million passengers annually. The Eurostar Group merges operations of Eurostar which operates in the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France, and Thalys, which runs high-speed rail services from Paris to Amsterdam and German cities. Eurostar also said it would increase daily services between London, Rotterdam and Amsterdam starting later this year. "I am pleased to welcome this exciting investment into Eurostar services, which is a huge step in promoting green travel across Europe and boosting our international rail connections," UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. The announcements come as Eurostar's three-decade monopoly in the Channel Tunnel looks likely to end. Earlier this year, Britain's Office of Rail and Road opened access to a maintenance depot along the Paris-London route to other firms, removing a hurdle to competitors offering services. Italian railway operator Trenitalia and British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group have since signalled plans to open their own services on the cross-Channel line.

Nine injured after violent turbulence hits Ryanair flight in Germany
Nine injured after violent turbulence hits Ryanair flight in Germany

Euronews

time5 days ago

  • Euronews

Nine injured after violent turbulence hits Ryanair flight in Germany

Severe storms in southern Germany forced a Ryanair flight to make an emergency landing late Wednesday after violent turbulence injured nine people on board, German police said in a statement Thursday. The flight, travelling from Berlin to Milan with 179 passengers and six crew members, encountered turbulence so intense around 8:30 pm that the pilot was forced to make an unscheduled landing at Memmingen Airport in Bavaria. Eight passengers and one crew member were hurt. Three people were taken to the hospital in Memmingen for treatment; the other injured people were released after receiving outpatient treatment. As a precaution, all passengers were checked for injuries by the emergency services. Authorities did not permit the plane to continue flying, and the airline arranged bus transport for passengers. Milan is about 380 kilometres south of Memmingen. Elsewhere in the region, storms damaged several homes in Ulm, Baden-Württmberg, according to the German news agency dpa. In the Donaustetten district, strong winds tore roofs off multiple row houses, rendering them uninhabitable, though no injuries were reported. Fire officials suspect a small tornado or waterspout caused the damage. The German Weather Service (DWD) is investigating, according to dpa. Storm-related emergency calls also came from other areas in southern Germany, where damage was mostly limited to fallen trees and flooded basements. The DWD warned of further storms on Thursday, 5 June, with hail, strong winds, and localised heavy rain expected. Despite warnings to stay away, hikers on Mount Etna were forced to flee this week after Italy's most active volcano erupted. Footage from the mountain shared on social media showed tourists scurrying down the slopes as ash rose into the sky. Authorities had issued alerts on Monday morning after signs of increased volcanic activity, but dozens ignored them and climbed toward the summit anyway. 'There was a big explosion and a crater collapsed but luckily it fell into a deserted area,' said Salvo Cocina, head of Sicily's Civil Protection Department. 'It's very hard to block access [to Mount Etna] – you can't fence it off.' No one was injured and the alert level was lowered to the standard 'yellow' on Tuesday. Experiencing a close-up volcanic eruption is a bucket-list event, and Mount Etna offers one of the most accessible opportunities to do it. At 3,350 metres tall and 35 kilometres wide, the Sicilian giant frequently rumbles to life, offering a front-row seat to nature's raw power. Even when it's active, many trails and paths remain safe to climb. '[The experience is] a mix of awe and adrenaline,' says mountain guide Saro Trovato, who safely – and legally – climbed Mount Etna when it erupted in February. 'Even from a distance, you can feel the heat radiating from fresh lava flows.' But above 2,500 metres, hikers are legally required to travel with a qualified mountain guide, who can keep visitors safe as well as informed. On Tuesday, many hikers were as high as 2,700 metres above sea level. Conditions can change quickly on the mountain. On Monday, a pyroclastic flow – a fast-moving surge of gas, rock and ash – travelled two kilometres down the mountainside. It didn't go further than the Valle del Leone, a natural containment area for lava flows, but any changes could have led to catastrophe. Tourism presents other problems during eruptions, too. In February, Cocina said that tourists parked on narrow roads around Mount Etna had blocked access for emergency vehicles. Firefighters had to be deployed to manage the growing crowds. This is why the authorities mandate mountain guides such as Trovato, who receive real-time updates from volcanologists and rescue teams and are trained to respond if conditions suddenly change. 'Always check volcanic activity updates from local authorities and respect any access restrictions,' he advises. Especially when the volcano starts to stir.

Rimowa expands in Canada with Yorkdale Store
Rimowa expands in Canada with Yorkdale Store

Fashion Network

time6 days ago

  • Fashion Network

Rimowa expands in Canada with Yorkdale Store

German premium luggage brand Rimowa has opened the doors to its latest Canadian boutique at Toronto's Yorkdale Shopping Centre. Spanning 1,500 square feet, the new space showcases Rimowa's latest store concept. The storefront is framed by two striking granite pillars, leading into a minimalist interior defined by the brand's signature aluminium and polycarbonate finishes, complemented by recycled French oak. Rimowa's collections are presented on bespoke modular tables running along the centre of the boutique, alongside two dedicated archival display cases that offer a glimpse into the brand's storied heritage. At the rear of the store, clients will find a refined lounge area adjacent to the in-house client care centre, where on-the-spot repairs are offered. The lounge features grooved oak walls—an homage to Rimowa's iconic design—and a complimentary heat embossing station, allowing guests to personalize travel accessories. Completing the space, the boutique also features a sticker wall showcasing collectible designs from Rimowa's global Sticker Collection, including a Toronto-exclusive city sticker. In addition to Rimowa's core luggage lines, the boutique houses seasonal colourways such as Granada and Verde in the Essential collection, as well as the new Taupe hue in the Never Still line. Founded in Germany, Rimowa became part of the LVMH Group in 2017. In 2023, it introduced an unconditional lifetime guarantee covering all suitcases purchased from July 25, 2022.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store