FRANKFURT: German trade union GdF, which represents around 190 striking workers at Frankfurt airport, said on Tuesday it wants control tower staff to join the walkouts, a move which could increase disruption caused by a strike which has forced the cancellation of 1,400 flights.
The union wants 12 air traffic controllers to join the strike from 0400 GMT to 1000 GMT on Wednesday, which would affect at least 300 flights, GdF board member Markus Siebers said.
"The step is meant to show solidarity with the GdF members in the struggle against Fraport," the union said in a statement.
A strike threatened last year by tower workers across Germany would have disrupted around 3,000 flights a day, including those flying over Germany, not only taking off and landing there.
Fraport was not immediately available for comment. When the union warned late on Monday it was considering extending the strike, airport operator Fraport called on the German government to stop air traffic controllers -- who work for a government-owned company -- from joining the strike.
"The threat to extend the strike would ... lead to economic damage that can under no circumstances be justified," Fraport said in a statement.
Walkouts by the employees who guide planes to parking places started on Feb. 16, but have so far had a limited impact at Frankfurt, Europe's third-busiest airport as measured by passenger numbers.
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