A one-day strike by security staff at major German airports on Thursday threw travel plans into chaos, with hundreds of flights cancelled and over 200,000 passengers affected.

The strike, called by the Ver.di union in an ongoing dispute over pay, grounded more than 1,100 flights across 11 airports, including the country's busiest hub, Frankfurt Airport.

Frankfurt Airport warned passengers to stay away as security checkpoints were closed, with major disruptions and cancellations expected throughout the day. Similar warnings were issued by other affected airports, including Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover, Berlin, Cologne/Bonn, Dusseldorf, Leipzig/Halle, Dresden, Erfurt, and Stuttgart.

While security staff at Munich and Nuremberg airports did not participate in the strike, passengers were still advised to brace for potential delays due to the nationwide disruptions to flight operations.

The Ver.di union, representing around 25,000 security staff, called the strike after negotiations with the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) failed to reach an agreement on their demands for higher wages, bonuses, and overtime pay. They are seeking a €2.80 ($3.02) per hour pay increase.

Passengers with flights scheduled for Thursday are urged to check the status of their journeys with their airlines or travel operators due to the ongoing strike action.

The strike is expected to have a significant impact on the German economy, particularly the tourism and travel sector. It also underscores the ongoing challenges faced by labor unions and employers in reaching agreements on fair wages and working conditions. The outcome of this strike could influence future negotiations between the parties involved. (ILKHA)