Flight cancellations at Hamburg Airport after a surprise strike by workers have affected more than 40,000 passengers.

Thousands of flights and over half a million passengers will be affected by a 24- hour strike at several big airports in Germany. Trade union Verdi has called the strike over a wage dispute.Strikes have hit key airports in Germany,

The airport in Germany’s second largest city said the one-day strike, called over pay and conditions, began earlier than expected “without any notice.”