Thai Airways cancels flights to Germany due to strikes

Thai Airways announced the cancellation of all flights from Bangkok to Frankfurt and Munich and vice versa today – February 17 – due to labour strikes at airports all over Germany.

Airport workers at major hubs in Germany are taking part in a day-long strike today over pay disrupting airline operations.

Public sector workers and ground handlers are striking at seven airports: Frankfurt Main, Munich, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Dortmund, Hannover and Bremen.

Flights will be “massively disrupted,” said an official at Munich Airport.

Thai Airways made the following statement…

“Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) announced the cancellation of the following flights to Germany on 16-17 February 2023 as Frankfurt and Munich airports would cease operations following the massive labour strikes at multiple airports in the country on 17 February:

1. TG920 Bangkok-Frankfurt on 16 February 2023
2. TG921 Frankfurt-Bangkok on 17 February 2023
3. TG922 Bangkok-Frankfurt on 17 February 2023
4. TG923 Frankfurt-Bangkok on 17 February 2023
5. TG924 Bangkok-Munich on 17 February 2023
6. TG925 Munich-Bangkok on 17 February 2023

“Passengers scheduled to travel in these flights may visit thaiairways.com for updates or call (66)23561111 for the THAI Contact Center(24 hours a day).”

The strikes are organised by the German trade union ver.di…

“There is still a catastrophic labour shortage among ground handling workers – travellers felt this clearly last summer… In order to change this situation, an attractive wage increase must take place for them.”

“And aviation security employees are entitled to an increase in the surcharges in the collective wage agreements.

“Employers have so far refused to accept this legitimate demand. Inflation and high energy and food prices are driving most workers into an insecure situation.

“Many no longer know how to pay their rent and fill the fridge. They need significantly more money to make a living. Employers need to see that and react accordingly.”

Airport association ADV said that strikes would lead to 2,340 domestic and international flight cancellations.

The association called the strikes “completely inappropriate.”

Yesterday, the websites of at least three airports in Germany – Dusseldorf, Nuremberg and Dortmund – were offline after an IT systems failure, disrupting flight operations of German flag carrier Lufthansa, and leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

In January, a strike at Berlin and Dusseldorf airports saw 300 flights cancelled.

Thai Airways recently announced its expansion into five cities in China.