Cologne Bonn Airport shutdown: Strike brings operations to a standstill

Friday, March 15, 2024

Today, Thursday, regular passenger flight operations at Cologne/Bonn Airport were halted due to a strike initiated by the trade union ver.di among security staff at the passenger control center. A total of 93 passenger flights (62 take-offs, 31 landings) were cancelled, out of an original schedule of 136 passenger flights (69 take-offs, 67 landings).

Most terminals remained deserted as airlines and tour operators had preemptively notified passengers of the disruptions, preventing unnecessary travel to the airport. Some flights were redirected to alternative airports or rescheduled outside the strike period. Approximately 12,000 travelers were impacted by the cancellations.

Ver.di instigated strikes among security staff at various German airports, including Cologne/Bonn, amidst ongoing wage negotiations. The union mandated a full-day halt in work for security staff at the passenger checkpoint from midnight to midnight on Thursday.

Furthermore, the union also directed security staff at personnel and goods checkpoints to commence an unannounced strike late on Wednesday evening. This resulted in significant delays for employees accessing the security area, with the strike anticipated to persist until midnight.

Potential disruptions or delays may persist even after the formal conclusion of the strike.

« Back to Page