At Düsseldorf airport, ground handlers are not to load any luggage or cargo from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m. According to the airport, the airlines affected include Lufthansa, Condor and Easyjet. The airport advises passengers to check with their airline about the current status of their flight and any changes to baggage regulations. In Hannover, Verdi has called on the Aviapartner ground staff to stop work from 5.00 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. and not to load any baggage. Seven flights were affected, said an airport spokeswoman for the German Press Agency on Wednesday. According to the airport, the destinations include two flights each to Amsterdam and Paris, and one each to Copenhagen, Warsaw and London.

For all other 26 flights during this period, the airport expects "no restrictions at all", as Aviapartner handles a significantly smaller proportion of flights, according to a spokeswoman. Hannover Airport also cooperates with Aviation Ground Services as baggage handler. Verdi is conducting wage negotiations with the ground handler Aviapartner. The union demands include the introduction of a Christmas and holiday bonus as well as better payment for night, shift and holiday work. Even after two rounds of negotiations, Aviapartner had not made anyoffer.

For the airport association ADV, the warning strikes exceed "every acceptable measure". In the past weeks, passengers and airports have been overtaxed by numerous strike actions. Verdi's short announcement period of less than one day was not fair, said ADV managing director Ralph Beisel.

(Original text: dpa Translation: Mareike Graepel)