Frankfurt airport chaos threatened as workers step up strike action

Feb 17, 2012, 12:11 GMT

Frankfurt - Travellers at Frankfurt airport faced another day of chaos Friday, with 280 flights cancelled by late morning at Germany's biggest airport after unions representing ground workers stepped up industrial action.

Union leaders have warned that the two-day strike could go into another week after talks with the operator of Europe's third biggest airport, Fraport, broke down.

'We will not back off,' said GdF union official Markus Siebers as tensions between the union and the company grew over a campaign for better pay and working conditions for about 200 ground workers.

If there's no progress in the dispute, the union will 'definitely' strike next week, Siebers said.

With long queues forming at airline counters across the airport, Fraport called on the unions to return to the negotiating table.

The flights worst hit by the industrial action were connections to other German and European cities. About 200 flights were cancelled on Thursday.