Strikes recap and upcoming strikes in Europe

Oct 15 2025 MFR travel team

A storm on the tarmac: Germany’s VER.DI walkouts

October brought drama to Germany’s skies. On 3 October 2025, VER.DI’s airport staff went on strike. At Frankfurt, Germany’s busiest hub, only 62 out of 1,116 scheduled flights operated. In effect: the airport was all but shut.

It wasn’t a spontaneous freak event. It was the continuation of a long-running battle over pay, staffing and working conditions. But the 3 October strike was the sharpest escalation so far this autumn.

As of mid-October, no new VER.DI airport strike dates have been officially confirmed. But tensions remain tightly wound. Lufthansa pilots’ union (VC) secured a strike mandate back on 30 September, though negotiations in early October temporarily forestalled action. No dates have been announced yet but the threat still looms.

Strikes across Europe

Germany isn’t alone. Across the continent, unions are wielding labour action as powerfully this autumn.

• Belgium (14 October): A nationwide strike brought flights to a standstill. All departures at Charleroi were cancelled, and most departures at Brussels Airport grounded. Public transport was hit hard.
• Italy (October): In Rome (FCO/CIA) a four-hour walkout (12:00–16:00) disrupted operations on 13 October. A 24-hour general strike is scheduled for 29 October, likely to hit Milan Linate, Florence, Pisa.
• Spain (August - December): Ryanair’s handling arm, Azul Handling, began rolling strikes from 15 August, targeting airports Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun in blocks (05:00–09:00, 12:00–15:00, 21:00–23:59). From 1 October, Spain’s government imposed minimum services to limit disruption.
• France: Air traffic control unions have threatened wide walkouts. Airlines such as IAG and Ryanair have criticized the repeated disruptions.
• Others: Greece, Lithuania, and others are expected to join coordinated unrest mid-October, widening the ripple effect across European airspace.

What travellers can do beyond bracing for impact

Strikes are chaotic by nature. But you don’t have to be powerless. Here’s your battle plan:

• Stay vigilant from T-48h onward. Airlines and airports often issue strike alerts close to the date.
• Assume the worst, hope for the best. Book early flights, leave buffer time for connections, carry hand luggage only.
• Document everything. Boarding passes, delayed/cancelled notices, receipts for meals, hotels, transport, these are your ammunition.
• Know your rights (EU261/2004): When external strikes (ATC, ground handlers, airport security) cause disruption, compensation is generally ruled out, but airlines must provide care (meals, hotel, rerouting or refund). If the strike is by the airline’s own staff, compensation may be owed, depending on conditions.
• File quickly. The sooner you act, the higher your chances of success. Some national authorities impose deadlines (e.g. 6 months) to claim.

How MYFLYRIGHT can help

If a strike cancelled or seriously delayed your flight, MYFLYRIGHT can help you recover additional costs the airline still owes under EU261, meals, refreshments, reasonable hotel and ground transport, plus refund or re-routing. Even when external strikes (ATC, airport security, ground handlers) mean cash compensation isn’t due, you can still claim reimbursement if the airline didn’t provide care on the day. If the disruption involved the airline’s own staff, we’ll also assess compensation eligibility. Send us your booking confirmation, boarding pass, airline notices, and itemized receipts, we’ll verify, file, and track the claim end-to-end.