All flights halted at Berlin airport as strike grounds operations

Air traffic at Berlin's airport ground to a halt early on Wednesday after the Verdi service workers' union began a full-day strike in an ongoing pay dispute, affecting roughly 57,000 passengers.

Airport authorities had warned on Monday that no flights would operate from the German capital's main airport, saying in a statement that "on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, no scheduled passenger flights will be possible at Berlin Brandenburg Airport".

It advised passengers with flights on that day to "contact your airline or tour operator for information on rebooking and alternative travel options".

Berlin Brandenburg Airport is one of Germany's major hubs, serving around 25 million passengers annually.

Around 445 arrivals and departures serving around 57,000 passengers had been scheduled for the day.

'Provocation' vs 'disproportionate'

The strike was announced by Verdi earlier on Monday after it accused the airport's management of a "blocking maneuver" in pay talks.

Verdi is negotiating for higher wages for some 2,000 employees, including staff in the fire department, air traffic control and terminal management. It rejected the pay proposal made by management, which the union said would average out to an increase of 1% per year until 2028.

"That is not a serious offer but a provocation," Holger Roessler, chief negotiator for Verdi, said in a statement.

Aletta von Massenbach, CEO of the airport's operating company, called the strike "disproportionate, especially in a situation that is already very tense due to the war in Iran".

The next round of negotiations has been scheduled for March 25 and von Massenbach said in a statement she was "confident that an agreement will be reached".