Editorial Team
Our content team
5 min read
445 cancelled flights. 57,000 passengers affected. Zero operations. On March 18, 2026, the ver.di trade union shut down Berlin's BER airport completely. And thousands of travelers were left wondering what to do next.
I've been reading forums and travel communities for the past few days. People worried about Easter trips. Business travelers rerouting through Leipzig or Hamburg last minute. And a whole lot of confusion about compensation rights. Quick answer: you probably won't get the 250 to 600 euro payout. But rebooking and care services? Those are yours no matter what.
What Happened on March 18
The trade union ver.di called roughly 2,000 employees of the Flughafengesellschaft Berlin Brandenburg (FBB, the airport operator) out on a warning strike. From 5 AM to 11:59 PM. Nineteen hours of nothing.
No reduced schedule. No emergency flights. According to the Berlin Senate, all passenger air traffic was suspended. A first since BER opened in 2020.
The day after? A different kind of chaos. BER expected 80,000 passengers and 29 extra flights as airlines scrambled to catch up.
Why ver.di Called the Strike
The wage dispute had been building for weeks. ver.di demands a 6% pay increase (minimum 250 euros per month), one additional paid day off, and a 12-month contract term.
The employer's offer? According to ver.di, effectively about 1% per year, spread over a contract running until late 2028. Lead negotiator Holger Roessler called it a "provocation," telling Euronews that offering just one percent while living costs climb shows "no appreciation."
I get the frustration, honestly. Whether a full airport shutdown was the right response is another question. But using 57,000 passengers as leverage? That hits the wrong people.
The next round of negotiations is scheduled for March 25, 2026. ver.di has not ruled out further strikes.
Your Rights: Compensation, Care, and Rebooking
This is where it gets confusing. And I think most people get this part wrong.
Not all strikes are the same. There's one distinction that changes everything:
Airline staff strikes (pilots, cabin crew): The airline usually CAN'T claim "extraordinary circumstances." You likely qualify for EU261 compensation (250 to 600 euros). We covered this in our Eurowings strike article (Coming Soon).
Airport staff strikes (like BER): Airlines CAN invoke "extraordinary circumstances." EU261 compensation? Generally no.
The ADAC confirms this: when airport operator employees strike, the cause falls outside the airline's control.
What you're always entitled to, regardless:
Free rebooking to the next available flight OR a full refund
Meals and drinks while you wait
Hotel and transport if you need to stay overnight
These care obligations apply whether the situation counts as "extraordinary" or not. The airline has to provide them.
Package holiday travelers should contact their tour operator directly, not the airline. TUI, DER Touristik, and similar companies handle the rebooking for package deals.
Alternative Airports Near Berlin
If BER goes down again (and there's a real chance it will), here are your options. None are perfect, but all are doable.
| Alternative Airport | Distance from BER | Train Time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Leipzig/Halle (LEJ) | 185 km | ~1 hour |
| Hanover (HAJ) | 250 km | ~1 hour 40 min |
| Hamburg (HAM) | 270 km | ~2 hours |
| Dresden (DRS) | 200 km | ~2 hours |
Leipzig/Halle is probably your best bet. Good easyJet connections, and you can reach it by ICE train in about an hour. FlixBus runs direct routes too if trains are packed.
One tip: when rebooking, check if your airline flies from an alternative airport. Ryanair and easyJet operate from Leipzig. Lufthansa covers Hanover and Hamburg.
What Happens Next?
ver.di and the airport operator sit back down on March 25, 2026. Will they reach a deal? I'm not holding my breath. The positions are far apart, and economic groups in Berlin are already tallying millions in damages for the region.
If you're flying out of BER in the coming weeks: keep an eye on the news. Warning strikes in Germany are typically announced one to two days in advance. Your airline will notify you by app or email. And pack the essentials in your carry-on, just in case your checked bag takes a longer route home.
