Fri, Jun 30th 2023
Geneva’s airport today cancelled nearly 400 flights affecting 54,000 passengers this morning in response to a strike. About 1,000 airport employees began striking today in response to a new wage model recently approved by the board of directors.
“This is one of the busiest travel days of the year – we don’t even know when we can get on a new flight,” said Cristel Malakoff, a frustrated passenger and Geneva resident. Geneva canton schools close today for summer holidays making Friday, Saturday and Sunday three of the most popular days for local families to leave on holidays.
For now, all flights between 6am and 10am have been cancelled with the possibility that more will follow should the workers and board of directors not reach an agreement. The Geneva Airport, which has been operating since 1919, has never experienced an employees strike, according to Keystone SDA.
The employees who have walked out are mostly security personnel and passport control agents. They are represented by the Public Service Union (VPOD), which has heavily criticized a new pay structure adopted by the Geneva Airport’s management. The VPOD said their demands must be met or the strike will continue. The Board of Directors say they regret that this action will result in travel disruptions.
In 2022 alone, the Geneva Airport handled 186,000 flights and served 18 million passengers.
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