Lufthansa and Air Berlin cancel flights
Strike action at Berlin's two international airports forced Lufthansa, Air Berlin and other airlines to cancel flights earlier this morning (February 24).
The warning strike, which began at 0500 GMT and scheduled to end at 0830 GMT, caused the delay or cancellation of around 24 flights at Tegel and Schoenefeld, reports said.
Both airports expect disruptions to continue for much of the day.
The severity of the strike action was intensified with the participation of airport fire services.
"If the fire department is not working, we cannot do anything," a spokesman for Lufthansa's Germanwings carrier told Reuters.
German flagship carrier Lufthansa cancelled around 12 short haul flights with further delays expected, while Air Berlin cancelled or delayed 18 flights in and out of Berlin.
Public service sector union Verdi - working towards an 8% pay rise for its members - said 300 workers participated, unhappy with the 2.6% increase and a €1,250 one-off payment offered by Berlin Airports.
www.berlin-airport.de