Union extends Frankfurt airport strike

An aircraft prepares for take off while some 200 apron control workers are on a strike for higher wages at the international airport in Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. The strike is supposed to last until Friday. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) / Michael Probst

FRANKFURT, Germany — The union representing ground workers at Frankfurt airport said Tuesday it was extending its strike through Friday to press its demands for more pay from airport operator Fraport AG.

The strikes that began last week have already led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and delays at the airport, Europe's third busiest, which sees some 1,300 takeoffs and landings daily.

Germany's largest airline, Lufthansa, which uses Frankfurt airport as its main hub, said it only had to cancel an additional 80 roundtrip flights on Tuesday — all domestic and European routes — after taking measures to work around the strike by 200 GdF union members.

Fraport says GdF's demands for double-digit wage increases are "absolutely unacceptable" while the union says it just wants the Frankfurt workers' salaries brought in line with what other airports pay.

GdF and Fraport have been unable to come to a new agreement after weeks of negotiations.