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Jan 14, 2026

Strike at Munich Airport grounds 80 % of flights for second day

Strike at Munich Airport grounds 80 % of flights for second day
Munich—the country’s second-largest hub after Frankfurt—saw 80 percent of scheduled take-offs and landings cancelled on 13 January, with rolling knock-on effects into the morning of 14 January. Lufthansa, which uses Munich as a secondary hub, confirmed that most intra-Europe rotations were scrubbed while intercontinental services faced multi-hour delays as ground-handling teams joined ver.di’s strike wave. (yahoo.com)

Passengers were offered free rebooking or refunds, but capacity was scarce: Deutsche Bahn long-distance trains on the Munich–Frankfurt–Cologne axis were sold out minutes after the airline’s announcement. Car-rental desks ran out of one-way vehicles by mid-afternoon.

Strike at Munich Airport grounds 80 % of flights for second day


If unexpected layovers push travelers beyond their permitted stay in the Schengen Area, VisaHQ can step in to arrange swift visa extensions or new transit documents. The company’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) guides applicants through German and wider Schengen requirements, helping them avoid overstay penalties and ensuring paperwork is in order once flights resume.

The labour dispute centres on an 8 percent wage demand and additional paid-leave days for airport staff. Employers’ association ADV said every strike day at Munich wipes roughly €30 million from the regional economy.

Companies with onwards connections to Asia-Pacific should note that many flights were re-routed via Zurich and Vienna, potentially affecting minimum-connection times for German Schengen exits and onward immigration checks.
VisaHQ's expert visas and immigration team helps individuals and companies navigate global travel, work, and residency requirements. We handle document preparation, application filings, government agencies coordination, every aspect necessary to ensure fast, compliant, and stress-free approvals.
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