Emirates, Dubai’s local carrier, has announced the cancellation and delay of multiple flights to Germany due to a planned workers’ strike at Frankfurt Airport on March 10. The strike, called by trade union Verdi, involves employees in the public sector and ground handling, affecting nearly all of Germany’s airports. This industrial action is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of passengers nationwide.

The flights affected by the strike include EK43 from Dubai to Frankfurt and EK44 and EK46 from Frankfurt to Dubai, all of which have been cancelled. Additionally, flight EK48 from Frankfurt to Dubai has been delayed and will operate as EK8048 on March 11, departing at 5:30 PM local time and arriving in Dubai on March 12 at 3 AM UAE time. Flights EK45 and EK47 from Dubai to Frankfurt will operate as scheduled.

Passengers flying to or from Hamburg, Munich, or Düsseldorf on March 10 may face delays. Emirates advises these passengers to either rebook their flights for an earlier time or travel to and from an alternative airport within the same region, provided their tickets were issued before March 8. Travellers are encouraged to contact their booking agents or Emirates directly for assistance.

The strike is part of ongoing negotiations between Verdi and employers, who have rejected the union’s demands for an eight per cent wage increase or a minimum increase of 350 euros per month, along with higher bonuses and additional time off. This escalation follows previous strikes, including a two-day strike at Munich Airport last month.

Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s main hub, anticipates no departures on the day of the strike, advising passengers to avoid the airport and check flight statuses on airline websites. Other affected airports include Stuttgart, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Hanover, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin, and Leipzig-Halle. The strike highlights the challenges faced by the aviation industry due to labor disputes and their impact on global travel.