Millions affected by German air and rail strikes

In Germany, millions of travellers are experiencing significant disruptions to transportation services due to strikes by rail and airport personnel.

Lufthansa airline ground staff have started a two-day strike, coinciding with a 35-hour strike led by train drivers.

Deutsche Bahn, the rail operator, has reported that only 20% of long-distance trains are operational, with Frankfurt, Germany’s largest airport, cancelling all departures.

These strikes represent the latest occurrences in a series of industrial actions impacting Germany.

The walkouts stem from disputes concerning pay and working conditions involving the national carrier, Lufthansa, and the state-owned rail operator, Deutsche Bahn.

Deutsche Bahn has forewarned of “massive disruptions” on Thursday and Friday.

Aside from the disruption to long-distance train services, regional routes have also been affected since early Thursday morning.

“Enough is enough. It’s a big nuisance and I can’t quite understand whether the demands, some of which are certainly justified, have to be enforced with such harsh means,” stranded train passenger, Walter Roehrer told APTN News in Berlin.