Strike impacts airlines operating in Germany and France

Members of the German Verdi union are striking tomorrow over demands for a 6% increase in wages for its public service workers, including airport staff. The strike will ground handling, check in, security and fire cover at major airport including Frankfurt and Munich, as well as Dusseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Dortmund and Hanover. At the same time, French air-traffic controllers will strike from 6pm GMT tomorrow until 5am on Friday. Airlines serving Paris Orly airport have been told to prepare to cancel one in five flights. Controllers are striking over staffing and retirement arrangements, as well as the prospect of job losses