Host Nation Update, Jan. 31, 2024
Strike actions impact most German airports (Thursday) and local transit (Friday)
Stuttgart Airport cancels all departures on Thursday
Security staff at airports across Germany are going on strike on Thursday. The consequences for passengers are serious. Not a single plane will take off from Stuttgart Airport.
The day after the strike was announced, the worst fears for passengers who wanted to travel from Stuttgart Airport on Thursday were confirmed. Due to the strike by security staff, “no departures are possible at Stuttgart Airport on Thursday. Arrivals may also be affected by the strike,” Stuttgart Airport Company (FSG) announced on Wednesday morning.
The airport recommend that affected passengers “check the status of their flight and contact their airline or tour operator”.
According to the airport, 142 flight movements were originally planned for Thursday. This figure also includes landings. It is not yet possible to say how many of these will be affected by the strike.
The security staff called out on strike by the trade union ver.di are on duty at the security controls after check-in, where travelers and their hand luggage are screened. Without this measure, regular passenger operations at the airport are not possible. (Stuttgarter Zeitung, Jan. 31)
Editor’s note: According to media reports, the airports affected by Thursday’s strike are Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Leipzig, Dresden, Erfurt, Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Munich and Nuremberg are not affected.
Strike in Stuttgart and in Esslingen city transport Friday
The trade union ver.di has announced an all-day, nationwide warning strike at municipal transport companies for Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. In the VVS service area (greater Stuttgart), the yellow buses and U-Bahn vehicles of Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (SSB) and the buses of Städtischer Verkehrsbetrieb Esslingen (SVE) will be affected.
The VVS asks its passengers to be prepared and to inform themselves about alternative connections or – if possible – to work from home. S-Bahn trains, regional trains, branch lines and buses in the regional districts are not affected by the ver.di trade union’s warning strike. Buses operated by private companies on behalf of SSB on SSB routes will also be running as usual.
The strike affects the following services:
Stuttgart:
- U-Bahn and SSB buses as well as the forest cable car (Südheimer Platz-Waldfriedhof), rack railroad (Zacke), and SSB Flex vehicles.
- Night bus services from Feb. 2 into Feb. 3
- Buses operated by private companies on behalf of SSB on SSB lines will not be canceled (lines 53, 54, 58, 60, 64, 66, 73 and 90)
Esslingen:
- All bus lines of the Esslingen municipal transport company (SVE); lines operated by private companies are not affected
The VVS recommends that passengers check their connections on the day of the warning strike in the timetable information via the VVS app or at vvs.de. The connections are automatically displayed there on the day of the strike without the means of transport on strike. Passengers can thus quickly get an overview of whether a connection is also possible without a streetcar or bus, possibly involving a longer walk.
Passengers may also be able to change to suburban trains or local trains that are not affected by the strike. The buses of the private transport companies, which are mainly in operation in the outlying districts, will run as usual. (Translated press release from VVS, Stuttgart area transit association, Jan. 31)
Upcoming Fasching events in the Stuttgart region
Fasching time with “Narri, Narro”: the fools are on the loose again. Over the next few days, many places will once again be in a state of exception.
Parades, town hall storms or children’s carnivals – Fasching also called the “fifth season” is gradually approaching its climax, and there is a wide range of events happening, for example:
Stuttgart, City center
In the Liederhalle, the Zigeunerinsel Stuttgart society will be holding its carnival session on Saturday, February 3. A carnival program with the society’s active members and well-known artists awaits the audience in the Beethoven Hall. The show starts at 7.11 pm. Tickets cost 25 euros.
On “Rose Monday”, February 12. From 2 pm. to 5 pm. there is a children’s carnival at Stuttgart Town Hall. The Monster Guggen concert takes place on the market square in front of the town hall from 6 pm to 10 pm. This is followed by the Old Town Carnival. Admission to the events in and in front of the town hall is free.
The big Stuttgart carnival parade is coming up on Tuesday, February 13. From 2 p.m., the carnival parade moves through the city center. The final party takes place on Karlsplatz and ends at 10 pm.
Bad Cannstatt
On Schmotzigen Donnerstag “Dirty Thursday”, February 8th, the Stuttgart markets and the Kübelesmarkt invite you to the foolish weekly market. It’s not just the market people who will be dressed up in colorful costumes from 10 am. The Kübler will also provide a colorful program on the market square. At 5.30 pm, the jester’s tree is put up and the town hall is stormed. At 7 p.m., the Kübelesrennen starts on the market square with many celebrities and club representatives.
On Monday, February 12, the Närrische Tribunal zu Cannstatt takes place at 4.30 pm. On Tuesday, February 13, the “Geizigrufen” will begin at 12 noon in the old town of Bad Cannstatt and the children’s parade around the market square at 2.30 pm.
Leinfelden-Echterdingen
On Saturday, February 10, the Filderer will be hosting a Schlager carnival party in the Filderhalle Leinfelden, Bahnhofstraße 61. Admission 7 pm, start 8 pm.
Musberg
The Lassada-Fatza carnival party of the Sieben-Mühlental-Hexen will take place on Saturday, February 10. Admission is from 7.33 pm. The party starts at 8.03 pm in the Musberg gymnasium and festival hall, Turnerweg 4.
Waldenbuch
TSV Waldenbuch is celebrating 50 years of the Krabba Ball in Waldenbuch on Saturday, February 3, in the Stadionhalle, Echterdinger Straße 82. Admission is at 7 p.m., start at 8 p.m. (Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Jan 31, 2024)
Editor’s note: Learn more about German carnival (or “fasching” celebrations in the current issue of the Stuttgart Citizen, on newsstands now and available online.