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Airport chaos: flights to and from the USA are canceled – 3300 US flights are delayed

2022-07-06T03:06:39.974Z


Airport chaos: flights to and from the USA are canceled – 3300 US flights are delayed Created: 06/07/2022, 05:00 By: Martina Lippl, Fabian Müller A child sits on suitcases in a queue in front of a check-in counter in Terminal 1 at Hamburg Airport. With the start of the summer holidays in Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg, the airport in the Hanseatic city is expectin


Airport chaos: flights to and from the USA are canceled – 3300 US flights are delayed

Created: 06/07/2022, 05:00

By: Martina Lippl, Fabian Müller

A child sits on suitcases in a queue in front of a check-in counter in Terminal 1 at Hamburg Airport.

With the start of the summer holidays in Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Hamburg, the airport in the Hanseatic city is expecting a rush of passengers.

© Marcus Brandt/dpa +++ dpa picture radio +++

Thousands of vacationers are affected.

Canceled flights, long queues and suitcase chaos.

The situation at German airports is critical.

The summer holidays have only just begun.

  • Numerous

    flights

    to and from

    Spain are

    canceled : Ryanair and Easyjet employees go on strike on these days in July.

  • 3000 suitcases “stranded” at Munich Airport

    : Owners have been waiting for their luggage for a week.

  • Handling chaos

    in

    air traffic

    : Endless queues, delays, cancellations and now also warning strikes.

  • Flight chaos

    at

    German airports

    : Can skilled workers from Turkey solve the problem?

  • This 

    news ticker

    about the

    airport chaos in Germany

     is updated regularly.

Update from July 3, 10:10 a.m .:

Flight chaos in Germany.

But despite the start of the holiday season, things remained comparatively relaxed at many German airports over the weekend.

Increased waiting times were hardly observed at the large airports in Hamburg or Munich.

According to the dpa news agency, passengers in Düsseldorf waited up to 20 minutes at the security checkpoints.

Frankfurt Airport expected a high number of passengers and tried to prepare accordingly.

On Twitter, the airport warned of disruptions and longer waiting times.

According to the recommendation, anyone traveling from Frankfurt should check in online in advance or be at the check-in desk two and a half hours before departure.

For arriving travelers, there could be considerable waiting times at baggage claim, it said.

Airport chaos: flights to and from the USA are canceled – 3300 US flights are delayed

Those who wanted to travel to the USA over the long weekend for Independence Day may also have been affected by the flight chaos.

On Saturday alone, more than 600 flights were canceled by the afternoon (local time) due to staff shortages in the United States, according to the website flightaware.com

, which specializes in flight connections

.

These were domestic flights as well as international flights with US cities as destination or departure.

Another 3,300 flights were delayed on Saturday.

The Americans are increasingly switching to cars because of the problems at airports: Despite the high gas prices, the record number of 42 million citizens will drive distances of at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) before the holiday on Monday, the AAA predicted.

Flight chaos in Germany: numerous flights to and from France and Spain are cancelled

On Saturday, 15 Easyjet and Ryanair flights to and from Spain were canceled due to the Spanish cabin crew's strike.

There were delays on 175 other flights to Spain, the unions said.

Ryanair is said to be on strike for another twelve days.

Dozens of flights were also canceled at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.

According to the airport operator ADP, every fifth flight was canceled on Saturday due to a fire brigade strike.

also read

"Never seen before in Germany": Meteorologist marvels at the weather model that predicts extreme July heat

Travel chaos for the summer holidays?

Eurowings cancels numerous flights again – strike at Malle-Flieger

When there may be restrictions on flights to and from Spain

According to the Spanish trade union USO, work at the ten Spanish airports served by the Irish airline Ryanair is to be stopped three more times for four days each.

The strike will therefore be from July 12th to 15th, from July 18th to 21st and from July 25th to 28th.

Almost 450 flight attendants at the Easyjet airline in Spain were called on to go on strike last weekend, as well as from July 15th to 18th and from July 29th to 31st.

They demand the same working conditions as for Easyjet employees in other EU countries.

Update from July 1, 8:07 p.m .:

Two northern German states start the school holidays, families in North Rhine-Westphalia are approaching the second week of vacation – the waiting times at the airports are sometimes long.

Some people had to wait longer at Hamburg Airport early Friday morning.

According to the federal police, waiting times at 4:30 a.m. were up to 60 minutes before security checks.

It was a busy travel day with 45,000 arrivals and departures, said a spokeswoman for Hamburg Airport on Friday morning.

Due to the high volume, the airport opened the terminals at 3:15 a.m. and the check-in counters at 3:30 a.m.

In the morning, many families had already flown on vacation.

Waiting times are expected to continue during the course of the day, although additional emergency services have already come to the airport to work.

A week after their stopover at Munich Airport, the owners of 3000 suitcases are still waiting for their luggage (symbolic image).

© IMAGO/Pius Koller

Airport chaos in Germany: warning strikes have had no effect so far

The simultaneous strike by the technical staff has so far had no effect on airport operations, the airport spokeswoman emphasized.

Employees of a maintenance company responsible for maintaining the technology in baggage handling, the runways and other technical infrastructure have gone on a one-day warning strike.

30 to 40 employees on the early shift answered the call on Friday before 6.30 a.m., hopefully there would be even more, said Verdi union secretary Lars Stubbe in the morning.

Airport chaos in Germany: Owners of 3000 suitcases have been waiting for their luggage for a week

Update from July 1, 6:11 p.m .:

The owners of 3000 suitcases are still waiting for their luggage a week after their stopover at Munich Airport.

Lufthansa said on Friday: "It's true that around 3,000 pieces of luggage have been stored in Munich since last weekend." A thunderstorm and air traffic control restrictions meant that transfer passengers were sometimes unable to reach their connecting flight.

This affected passengers from European connecting flights and domestic flights who were rebooked on the train.

"We apologize to our guests and are working hard around the clock to deliver your luggage to you," Lufthansa said.

However, half of these 3000 suitcases were actually intended for other German airports.

They are temporarily sorted in Munich to relieve other German airports that can no longer keep up with their work due to a lack of staff.

Numerous suitcases are stored in the baggage claim area.

Hundreds of suitcases, bags and prams are still piling up in the baggage claim area of ​​some airports and it takes days to find their owners.

© Jonas Walzberg

Chaos at German airports: second round of negotiations by Lufthansa ground staff

Update from June 30, 9:53 p.m .:

The collective bargaining on Thursday afternoon in Frankfurt am Main did not bring any results, as the Verdi union announced in the evening.

The second round of negotiations for Lufthansa ground staff is scheduled for July 13, 2022 in Hamburg.

Update from June 30, 6:28 p.m .:

Against the background of major handling problems and staff shortages, collective bargaining for around 20,000 Lufthansa ground staff has begun.

At the start of talks in a hotel at Frankfurt Airport on Thursday, the Verdi union reiterated its demand for a 9.5 percent jump in wages.

The union refrained from accompanying protest actions.

Chaos at German airports: Verdi union demands 9.5 percent more wages

Chief negotiator Christine Behle cites, among other things, the heavy burden on employees caused by the Corona crisis and the intensification of work as reasons for the demand.

Many employees have left the company, so that the task density has become even greater for those who remain.

Add to that the high inflation and the three-year waiver of salary increases.

Behle, who is also Vice-Chairman of the Lufthansa Supervisory Board, criticized that Lufthansa, with its drastic downsizing during the Corona crisis, contributed to the severely worsening of the situation.

The union wants to provide special care for the lower wage groups for a period of twelve months.

The salary increase must be at least 350 euros and, in addition, all hourly wages should differ significantly from the statutory minimum wage, which will rise to 12 euros an hour in October.

Update from June 30, 2:41 p.m

.: Hamburg Airport reacts to the travel chaos.

At the start of the summer holidays in the north, Hamburg Airport has adjusted its opening hours.

In order to cope with the rush of passengers, check-in for the first flights can begin as early as 3:30 a.m., reports Hamburg Airport.

Check-in counters and the self-bag-drop machines are ready for this.

Nevertheless, given the staffing problems in air transport, travelers would have to expect long waiting times.

"The situation is very tense" and there is "nothing nice to talk about," said Hamburg airport boss Michael Eggenschwiler on Thursday.

Air traffic is currently reaching its limits almost every day throughout Europe.

He recommends being at the airport two and a half hours before departure, or “a little bit earlier”, especially for peak flights around midday and between 4pm and 6pm.

Federal police warns about summer trips 2022: Travelers have forgotten how to fly

"Many would have forgotten how to fly," said Vice President of the Federal Police Headquarters in Hanover, Michael Schuol.

“Make your preparations at home”, is his appeal.

Pack liquids in bags, pay attention to the appropriate amounts, Schuol lists.

"No files, no harpoon or weapons belong in hand luggage." It is also "not helpful" to take several pieces of hand luggage with you because of high luggage fees, then everything takes even longer.

Update from June 30, 2:31 p.m

.: The summer holidays have only just begun and the airports in Germany and Europe are in chaos.

A quick solution to the problem hardly seems in sight.

A flight attendant wrote down 20 tips and advice anonymously on Facebook.

Anyone planning a flight should take a look.

In the midst of flight chaos: Verdi calls for a strike at Hamburg Airport

Update from June 30, 10:49 a.m

.: In the middle of the flight chaos, things could get worse in Hamburg.

At the start of the holiday season in the northern German states, Verdi is calling on the technical staff at Hamburg Airport to go on warning strike on Friday (July 1).

Real Estate Maintenance (RMH) is responsible for maintaining the technology in baggage handling, the runways and all other technical infrastructure.

The strike is scheduled to begin in the morning shift and will initially last 24 hours.

In Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Friday is the last day of school before the summer holidays.

Federal State

Summer vacation 2022

Schleswig-Holstein

July 4 to August 13, 2022

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

July 4 to August 13, 2022

Hamburg

July 7 to August 17, 2022

Handling chaos in air traffic: Endless queues, delays and cancellations

Munich – It is probably a debacle with an announcement: German airports are currently completely overwhelmed.

There is a lack of staff at check-in, security and baggage handling.

But the increasing number of corona infections among flight staff and ground staff at the airlines is also exacerbating the situation.

Flight passengers currently need good nerves and a lot of time.

What that means was shown at the start of the holiday season in North Rhine-Westphalia at Düsseldorf Airport.

Suitcases were left behind at the weekend.

Travelers had to fly on vacation without luggage.

After landing, there were problems unloading.

The airport fire brigade had to lend a hand.

Staff shortages and a technical breakdown in the baggage sorting machine were the reason for the misery.

Not an isolated case: Baggage handling is also working at the capacity limit at other German airports.

The peak travel season is just beginning.

Airlines have already thinned out their flight schedules.

In addition to the 900 cancellations in July, Lufthansa alone is taking a further 2,200 connections in the summer at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs from the flight plan.

Classic holiday destinations should be less affected.

Flight chaos at German airports: Can skilled workers from Turkey solve the problem?

Foreign workers are supposed to help against the chaos at German airports.

"We make it possible for companies to use helpers from abroad, especially from Turkey," said Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) on Wednesday in Berlin after coordinated government proposals. 

Frankfurt Airport wants to hire "several hundred" foreign temporary workers.

According to previous estimates, the first employees could start working in eight weeks, said a spokesman for the operator Fraport on Wednesday.

The federal government had previously cleared the way for easier recruitment in Turkey, among other places.

The security check at the state of Hesse alone takes six weeks, explained Fraport.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) had assured that no compromises would be made on security.

This means that the main travel wave during the school holidays would be missed at the largest German airport.

"The additional forces still help us a lot," said the Fraport spokesman.

Lufthansa boss apologizes: flight chaos probably all summer

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has already warned the passengers that there will be further difficulties in air traffic.

The industry is planning several thousand new hires in Europe alone.

"However, this increase in capacity will only have a stabilizing effect in the coming winter." He apologized on behalf of the company for the fact that after the Corona slump, the "ramp-up of the complex air traffic system from almost zero to currently almost 90 percent again" did not achieve the desired reliability , punctuality and robustness.

The manager admitted that the Lufthansa Group also lacked staff in some areas.

From next summer, the group intends to use the A380 aircraft, which have since been decommissioned.

(ml/dpa)

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-07-06

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