Around 10,000 people would be stranded in Hungary until Saturday after a strike by ground services staff forced the cancellation of over 150 flights from Budapest Airport, a spokesman said Thursday, according to dpa. Domokos Szollar said that only flights operated by the Hungarian airline Malev and budget carrier SkyEurope were expected to be unaffected by the action, as they have their own ground handling services. Szollar had earlier said he did not expect cancellations. Inforadio.hu reported much "tumult and swearing" at information desks as travellers who had hoped to travel to London and Dortmund attempted to change their tickets. The air workers union LDFSZ said that employees of ground services firm Celebi would strike from 2.30 p.m. (12:30 GMT) Thursday until the same time on Saturday. Celebi staff caused delays last Friday and Saturday during a 24- hour strike aimed at forcing management to up a pay increase from 4 per cent to 10 per cent. -- SPA
