57,000 Passengers Stranded as Major Berlin Airport Shuts Down

Berlin Brandenburg Airport has cancelled 445 flights, leaving approximately 57,000 passengers stranded due to a full-day strike by the Verdi service workers’ union.

According to reports by aviation sources on March 18, 2026, the strike is part of ongoing wage negotiations affecting roughly 2,000 employees, including personnel in fire services, air traffic control, and terminal management.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport Cancels 445 Flights

The Verdi service workers’ union is demanding higher wages, and the strike has caused widespread travel chaos for passengers and airlines alike.

As one of Germany’s major transport hubs, Berlin Brandenburg Airport serves around 25 million passengers annually, making the disruption particularly significant.  

Passengers affected by the cancellations are advised to contact their airlines or tour operators to rebook or request full refunds. Airlines will provide alternative travel routes or refunds where necessary.

However, Berlin’s airport boss Aletta von Massenbach slammed the cancellations as “disproportionate” to the issue.

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UK Flights Affected at Berlin Brandenburg Airport

According to reports, 23 flights from the United Kingdom to Berlin have been affected, while other Brits are trying to leave the city, leaving thousands stranded by the airport chaos.

The following is a list of UK flights affected:

• 9:50 am easyJet flight from London Luton
• 10:05 am British Airways flight from London Heathrow 
• 10:25 am Ryanair flight from London Stansted 
• 11:05 am British Airways flight from London City
• 11:15 am easyJet flight from London Gatwick
• 11:20 am British Airways flight from London Heathrow 
• 1:05 pm British Airways flight from London Heathrow 
• 1:40 pm British Airways flight from London City
• 1:55 pm easyJet flight from Bristol
• 3:45 pm British Airways flight from London Heathrow 
• 4:45 pm British Airways flight from London Heathrow 
• 5:05 pm British Airways flight from London City
• 5:10 pm Ryanair flight from London Stansted 
• 6:55 pm British Airways flight from London Heathrow
• 8:10 pm British Airways flight from London Heathrow 
• 8:10 pm easyJet flight from Edinburgh 
• 8:50 pm easyJet flight from Manchester
• 8:50 pm easyJet flight from London Gatwick 
• 8:55 pm Ryanair flight from Manchester 
• 9:10 pm Ryanair flight from London Stansted 
• 9:45 pm British Airways flight from London City
• 10 pm British Airways flight from London Heathrow 
• 10:55 pm easyJet flight from London Gatwick 

About Berlin Brandenburg Airport

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), located in Schönefeld, is the main international gateway to Germany’s capital and the surrounding state of Brandenburg.

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It serves as a hub for easyJet, Ryanair, Eurowings, Condor, and Sundair, offering a wide range of connections across Europe and beyond.

Opened in 2020, BER replaced the city’s former airports, Tegel in the northwest, and the old Schönefeld at the same location to the southeast of the Hauptstadt.

It operates primarily short- and medium-haul flights to key business and leisure destinations, with a growing number of long-haul connections.