A strike at Geneva airport disrupted travel for thousands of passengers on Friday, fueling fresh concern that protests and labor shortages may cause another summer of chaos in European.
The strike grounded all flights between 6:00 a.m. and 10 a.m., affecting about 8,000 passengers, and flight delays as well as outright cancellations are likely for the remainder of the day, according to airport officials.
Airport personnel are protesting against a new remuneration policy approved Thursday by the airport’s board of directors. Geneva Airport, which borders on France, is a hub for international travel and an important base for airlines including EasyJet Plc, Air France-KLM and Deutsche Lufthansa AG-owned Swiss International.
About 2,000 Swiss International passengers will see all departing flights canceled for four hours, and those due to arrive at the airport during the period face delays and disruptions, the airline said in an emailed statement.
“Strikes have posed particular challenges to Swiss and its personnel this year,” the airline said. “Never before has our company had to cancel so many flights in various European countries as a result of strike action.”
Geneva and other European airports have been affected this year by a series of protests by French air traffic controllers. The latest one hit three smaller French airports on Thursday, which forced Ryanair Holdings Plc to cancel all flights at its main Paris-Beauvais airfield.
--With assistance from Siddharth Philip.
