The German Association of the Aviation Industry (BDL) has warned that the ongoing strikes in the country’s aviation sector are beginning to take a serious toll. “The work stoppages are striking at Germany’s aviation hub during an already critical phase” the association said on Wednesday.
While other European nations seem to be steadily recovering from the post‑COVID downturn, Germany still lags noticeably behind. Repeated strikes only amplify these competitive disadvantages. BDL noted that the strikes affect not only airlines, but also passengers, the wider economy and Germany’s international connectivity.
The organization added that strikes in aviation have a particularly far‑reaching impact, which raises the question of whether the right to strike for critical infrastructure should be “re‑balanced”. Against this backdrop, BDL called on employee representatives to seek durable solutions at the negotiation table, rather than resorting to “stubbornness on the street”.
In recent weeks the sector has endured multiple work‑rupture days. Just last week, Lufthansa Classic, Cityline and Lufthansa Cargo all went on strike for several days. Concurrently, further strike votes are underway with Eurowings and the cabin crews of Lufthansa Cityline. On Wednesday, the Berlin‑Brandenburg airport completely halted operations due to a warning strike.