Chaos at Frankfurt airport as security staff strike

Passengers were advised on Friday not to bother turning up for flights at Frankfurt airport because of a one-day strike by security staff.

"We have asked passengers not to travel to the airport for now. As things currently stand, the legally required security checks cannot be carried out," a spokesman for airport operator Fraport told AFP.

The spokesman said that in total, 65 flights had officially been cancelled so far, out of a total 1,300 scheduled for the entire day.

The number of actual cancellations was comparatively small, because a large part of the traffic going through Frankfurt is transit or transfer traffic where passengers do not need to undergo security checks again.

However, even if flights are not officially cancelled, no other passengers turning up for them can board because no security checks are being carried out.

Germany's main airline, Lufthansa, said around two-thirds of its passengers were transit passengers.

"Flights aren't being cancelled to help keep operations up and running," a Lufthansa spokesman said.

Service industry union Verdi called on members employed by private security contractors to stay away from work between 0100 and 2200 GMT on Friday.

Verdi is fighting for an hourly wage rise to 16 euros ($22), calling an offer by employers of 10-13 euros "far too low".

SOURCE