STRIKES BY GERMAN airport workers are set to cause flights to be delayed and cancelled across Europe.

The action is being taken by public sector airport workers in Frankfurt, Munich, Duesseldorf, Cologne/Bonn, Dortmund and Hanover.

While this will not result in a complete shut down, the airports will be operating at a greatly reduced capacity.

In total around 87,000 passengers will be affected, and German operator Lufthansa has cancelled 895 flights.

While the Germans will be the worst hit, the knock-on effect will be felt by passengers travelling on flights either into or through the country.

How does this hit Irish passengers? 

As it stands only flights out of Dublin have been cancelled.

Aer Lingus flights to Munich and Berlin due to depart earlier this morning were called off, and a Lufthansa flight due to depart shortly after 11am has also been cancelled.

Cork Airport, which operates a service to Frankfurt in Germany, has said that its flight is scheduled to run as usual later today.

Kerry Airport has said that its 2.35pm service to Frankfurt is also expected to operate as normal.

Why are they doing this? 

The action today is being taken by air safety control workers, ground services workers, check-in counter operators and staff in engineering workshops – all of which are part of the country’s biggest services union Verdi.

The strikes aim to put pressure on the government over public sector wages.

The move has been slammed by airline operator Lufthansa.

It is unacceptable that our passengers are the ones feeling the effects of the strike,” said Lufthansa’s personnel chief Bettina Volkens.

“Verdi is hurting an airline that offers its workforce the highest welfare standards,” she added.

- Contains reporting from AFP.

Read: Three biscuit tins full of cocaine were found by customs at Dublin Airport

Also: Some local residents aren’t too happy with Dublin Airport’s plans for a new runway