Chaos at Düsseldorf Airport: Strikes cause flight cancellations!

Chaos at Düsseldorf Airport: Strikes cause flight cancellations!

Air traffic at Düsseldorf Airport is severely affected today, June 29, 2025. How tonight.de reported that a number of flights were canceled or delayed on Sunday morning. The reason for the inconvenience is a nationwide warning strike by the Verdi union. The strike began at 2:30 a.m. and affected 13 German airports, including Düsseldorf, where around half of the take-offs and landings were canceled.

At lunchtime, activity in the terminal halls was rather subdued. However, some travelers faced long queues at the counters, while others closely followed information about cancellations and possible delays. For a lucky few, like a tour group from Leverkusen on the way to Palma, the trip went as planned, while a couple in the Seychelles were able to enjoy the professional background of a partner at the airport who gave them important information.

Background of the strike

The strikes are not a new phenomenon in air transport. Loud Arbeitmarkt-woche.de Between 2019 and 2022, strike activities resulted in over 395 million euros in lost revenue. This sum significantly weakens the material basis of airports and airlines. Matthias von Randow, General Manager of the Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry, points out that such conflicts not only burden travelers, but also have long-term effects on safety and environmental protection.

Verdi is demanding, among other things, wage increases and additional vacation days for employees. At a time when changes are advancing through artificial intelligence, it is important that these are designed in a socially just manner. In addition, adjustments to older colleagues and an increase in rotation and shift allowances, which have remained unchanged since the 1960s, are also part of the demands.

Passenger volumes and seasonal movements

The situation is particularly explosive for travelers today, as over 200,000 guests are expected at the airport during the current Easter holidays in 2025. This represents the highest passenger value since Corona, as around 5,500 take-offs and landings take place during the holiday season and around 45,000 passengers count every day. The most popular travel destinations are the Canary Islands, Mallorca, Antalya and Hurghada.

The run-up to Christmas 2024 will also be a challenge for the airport with over 800,000 travelers from December 20th to January 6th. A comprehensive package of measures that has been implemented since spring 2023 is intended to help relieve passengers and avoid long waiting times. This includes the so-called “off-block” program and the ability to book time slots for security checks in advance.

As the crisis situation at Düsseldorf Airport shows, the public air transport network in Germany is affected by a number of challenges. An outlook on future conflicts and solutions is therefore of great importance in order to protect both travelers and employees in the industry.