The services union Ver.di announced late on 7 February that ground-handling and security staff at Hamburg Airport will stage a warning strike from the start of the night shift on 9 March until the end of the late shift on 10 March after wage talks collapsed. (akm.ru)
Although the action is four weeks away, airlines have begun contingency planning because Hamburg is Germany’s fifth-largest airport and a key origin point for northern corporate travellers. A similar strike in January led to more than 200 flight cancellations and cost carriers an estimated €3 million in re-routing and accommodation fees.
![Ver.di Calls 48-Hour Strike at Hamburg Airport for 9–10 March, Threatening Spring Travel]()
Travellers who may need to divert to other German entry points at short notice can streamline the paperwork with VisaHQ; the platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) expedites visa and travel-document processing for Germany and offers up-to-date guidance on requirements for alternative routings, easing the burden on mobility and travel teams.
Ver.di is demanding a 12 % pay rise, a 35-hour week and higher night-shift premiums, arguing that inflation and staff shortages have eroded real wages. Airport management says the demands would raise costs “to an unsustainable level” and insists that any increase must align with productivity gains.
If no deal is reached, the March walk-out will coincide with the start of many firms’ spring assignment cycles. Global mobility teams should avoid routing assignees through Hamburg during the strike window or build in extra time for re-booking. Travellers already ticketed can expect free re-issues under most airlines’ irregular-operations policies.
Although the action is four weeks away, airlines have begun contingency planning because Hamburg is Germany’s fifth-largest airport and a key origin point for northern corporate travellers. A similar strike in January led to more than 200 flight cancellations and cost carriers an estimated €3 million in re-routing and accommodation fees.
Travellers who may need to divert to other German entry points at short notice can streamline the paperwork with VisaHQ; the platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) expedites visa and travel-document processing for Germany and offers up-to-date guidance on requirements for alternative routings, easing the burden on mobility and travel teams.
Ver.di is demanding a 12 % pay rise, a 35-hour week and higher night-shift premiums, arguing that inflation and staff shortages have eroded real wages. Airport management says the demands would raise costs “to an unsustainable level” and insists that any increase must align with productivity gains.
If no deal is reached, the March walk-out will coincide with the start of many firms’ spring assignment cycles. Global mobility teams should avoid routing assignees through Hamburg during the strike window or build in extra time for re-booking. Travellers already ticketed can expect free re-issues under most airlines’ irregular-operations policies.
