Strike at Berlin Airport: all flights cancelled for the whole day

An unexpected transport crisis in Europe has caught thousands of passengers off guard. Berlin’s largest airport is set to shut down completely due to a mass staff strike, leading to the cancellation of all flights and major disruption to travel. Find out how these changes might affect your travel plans and what to expect next

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On 18 March 2026, Berlin-Brandenburg, the main airport of the German capital, was brought to a complete standstill. Due to a mass warning strike by staff, the airport management was forced to cancel absolutely all flights for the entire day.

What passengers should do

The Berlin airport administration published an official statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), urging passengers not to come to the terminals as flight services would not be operating. Travellers are strongly advised to contact their airlines or tour operators directly to rebook tickets for other dates or to find alternative travel options.

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Reasons for the strike: what the Verdi trade union is demanding

The transport disruption was initiated by the German service sector trade union Verdi. In its statement, the organisation called on airport staff to take part in a 24-hour warning strike due to employers’ intransigence in the current wage negotiations.

The strikers’ main complaint is that inflation is being ignored. Management has proposed raising wages for 2026–2028 by an average of just 1–1.5%, which the union considers completely unacceptable given the rising cost of living. Furthermore, the conflict is being exacerbated by the fact that employers are openly questioning the preferential terms for Verdi members and refusing to renew the agreement on staff training.

“This is not a serious proposal, but a provocation at the negotiating table. Anyone who offers employees practically only a one-per-cent pay rise per year for several years, whilst the cost of living is rising, shows absolutely no appreciation for their work,” commented Holger Ressler, a negotiator for the Verdi trade union, sharply.

The strike on 18 March is purely a warning. The next round of negotiations between the union and employers is scheduled for 25 March. Verdi representatives have already stated that they expect a significantly improved offer by that date. Otherwise, passengers should brace themselves for further disruptions to air travel in Germany.

If you are planning a trip in the near future, it is worth thinking about your route in advance and checking the available travel options. It is convenient to do this through the ticket booking system for all types of transport on Visit Ukraine — the service allows you to quickly find and book tickets for planes, trains, or buses in one place, which is especially useful in the context of changes in international air traffic.

Reminder! The conflict surrounding Iran is already affecting the global air travel market and forcing carriers to raise fares. Find out why tickets are becoming more expensive, which routes have been hit hardest, and how the conflict is impacting global tourism.

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