Ground controllers at Frankfurt airport, who direct planes in and out of parking spaces, walked off the job for a seven-hour strike Thursday, disrupting flights all over Europe. The airline Lufthansa cancelled 50 landings and 50 takeoffs at Europe's third-biggest airport to minimize the strike's impact. As the strike proceeded, the airport said a total of 150 movements, covering all airlines, had to be cancelled, dpa reported. During the seven hours affected by Thursday's strike, 526 takeoffs and landings had been scheduled. Only 16 of the 200 ground controllers reported to work. Former ground controllers in management were ordered back to their old jobs so that a skeleton service continued. The air traffic control labour union said there would be a 14-hour follow-up strike Friday by the 200 controllers. Passengers voiced exasperation at the union.
