Berlin’s Brandenburg airport was eerily empty on Wednesday (January 25) as every one of the nearly 300 flights scheduled that day was canceled due to a strike.

Most of the 35,000 affected passengers stayed away, but some who had not heard of the strike showed up to quite a surprise.

“I have to accept the situation,” said Rodrigo Mascarenhas, who was supposed to travel back to Brazil. “I don’t know the reason of the strike but I believe it’s a good reason for the workers.”

Mascarenhas was given a hotel voucher and had his flight rescheduled for the next day.

The strike was called by the trade union Verdi, demanding a €500 ($540) monthly salary increase for airport workers and ground handling services.

This footage was filmed and produced 25 January 2023.

Berlin’s Brandenburg airport was eerily empty on Wednesday, January 25, as every one of the nearly 300 flights scheduled that day were cancelled due to a strike.

Most of the 35,000 affected passengers stayed away, but some who had not heard of the strike showed up to quite a surprise.

“I have to accept the situation,” said Rodrigo Mascarenhas, who was supposed to travel back to Brazil. “I don’t know the reason of the strike but I believe it’s a good reason for the workers.”

Mascarenhas was given a hotel voucher and had his flight rescheduled for the next day.

The strike was called by trade union Verdi, demanding a €500 ($540) monthly salary increase for airport workers and ground handling services.