Germany unveils ‘flexicurity’ labour-law package to attract and retain mobile talent
Ryanair presses EU to defer Entry/Exit System after reports of long queues
Lufthansa introduces dynamic seat-change fee during online check-in
Latest News
German cabin-crew union joins call to freeze EU–Qatar open-skies accord
Germany’s UFO cabin-crew union joined wider European labour groups on 3 July in calling for the EU–Qatar aviation accord to be suspended over corruption and social-dumping concerns. Any freeze could limit Gulf carrier capacity at German hubs, with knock-on effects for corporate itineraries and air-cargo agreements.
Condor suspends Middle-East flights amid regional security alerts
Condor confirmed on 3 July that flights from Germany to Beirut, Sulaymaniyah, Tel Aviv and Cairo are suspended indefinitely because of regional tensions, with Dubai services also cut short. Companies must rebook affected travellers and reassess routing options for Middle-East assignments.
Nation-wide retail & wholesale strike hits German supply chains on 3 July
A 24-hour ver.di strike on 3 July disrupted retail and wholesale supply chains across Germany, delaying relocation shipments and reducing services at airports and stations. Employers should expect possible repeat actions later in the summer unless wage talks progress.
Air Canada inaugurates Berlin–Montreal route, boosting transatlantic options for German firms
Air Canada launched nonstop Berlin–Montreal flights on 3 July, giving German companies a direct link to Canada’s business hubs for the first time since the pandemic. The route improves passenger convenience but offers only modest belly-hold capacity once the single-aisle A321XLR replaces the 787.
Airlines urge EU to pause Entry/Exit System as Berlin airport warns of two-hour queues for non-EU travellers
On 2 July airlines and airport groups urged Brussels to defer the Schengen Entry/Exit biometric system for the summer peak. Germany, which fully activated EES in April, is already seeing two-hour queues at Berlin airport, raising the risk of missed flights for business travellers. Companies should build extra airport time into itineraries and monitor next week’s EU crisis meeting.
Germany confirms higher 2026 EU Blue Card salary thresholds
Germany has finalised its 2026 EU Blue Card salary thresholds: €50,700 for standard occupations and €45,934.20 for shortage professions and recent graduates. The new figures apply to all first-time and renewal applications decided on or after 1 January 2026 and will be processed through the Consular Services Portal. Employers must adjust offers now to avoid rejections, while applicants who fall short should consider alternative visa routes such as the Skilled-Worker Visa or the Opportunity Card.
EU moves to prolong Temporary Protection for Ukrainians until 2028 – key carve-out could hit Germany’s 1.2 million beneficiaries
Brussels has asked EU governments to prolong temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees by another year to March 2028, but wants to exclude newly-arriving Ukrainian men of conscription age. Germany, which hosts the largest number of beneficiaries, welcomes the certainty for 1.2 million current permit-holders yet faces added border-control complexity. Companies should prepare for stricter document checks, possible refusals for new male arrivals, and update mobility policies accordingly.
Foreign Office Updates Cuba Travel Advisory: Fuel Shortages and Medical Supply Gaps Persist
Germany has updated its Cuba travel advisory, highlighting nationwide fuel shortages, long power cuts and lack of medical supplies. The Foreign Office urges travellers to secure robust medical-evacuation cover and warns businesses to review contingency logistics for staff stationed on the island.
Ryanair Sounds Alarm Over Two-Hour Queues at Berlin as EES Fingerprint Checks Begin
Ryanair has warned that fingerprint checks under the EU’s new Entry/Exit System are producing two-hour border queues at Berlin Brandenburg Airport and could derail summer schedules. The airline wants Brussels to suspend the biometric requirement until September, while airport management scrambles to add kiosks and staff. Employers should prepare travellers for extended waits and potential missed connections.
Frankfurt Airport Faces ‘Meltdown’ Warnings as Airlines Report Five-Hour Border Delays
A Travel and Tour World investigation highlights five-hour immigration waits at Frankfurt Airport, prompting airlines to request staggered arrivals and special fast-track lanes. With only a third of new biometric kiosks arriving before August, Fraport is reopening parts of Terminal 2 as an overflow area. Business travellers should expect longer connection windows or consider routing via alternate hubs.
Frankfurt–Gießen rail link back to normal after fire-damaged signal box fixed
After nearly two weeks of severe disruption caused by a cable fire at the Friedberg signal box, Deutsche Bahn will restore full service on the Frankfurt–Gießen route early on 3 July. The resumption clears a key commuter and business-travel artery into Frankfurt’s finance hub.
German Airports Urge Brussels to Allow Temporary Suspension of New EU Biometric Border Checks
Frankfurt and Berlin airports have joined EU-level airline and airport associations in asking the European Commission for powers to suspend or scale back the new Entry/Exit System when queues overwhelm border facilities. With non-EU travellers already facing waits of up to five hours, German hubs warn of mass re-bookings and operational chaos during the imminent school-holiday surge. Business travellers and assignees are advised to build in longer connection times and carry proof of their biometric enrolment.
Left-Rhine rail line diversions hit Cologne–Koblenz services during July works
From 2 to 10 July Deutsche Bahn is diverting all long-distance traffic off the left-Rhine main line between Cologne and Koblenz to prepare for major corridor works later in the month. Multiple regional services are cancelled and replacement buses add up to an hour of travel time, affecting commuters and business travellers throughout North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.
EU Aviation Bodies Deliver Hard-Hitting Letter to von der Leyen Over EES ‘Saturation’ Risk
Agence Europe has published the aviation sector’s detailed letter to Commission President von der Leyen, warning that the new Entry/Exit System risks airport ‘saturation’ and proposing an emergency suspension mechanism. The annex singles out Germany as a congestion hotspot, making the outcome highly relevant for firms moving staff through German hubs. Mobility teams should prepare for rapid regulatory shifts following next week’s EU meeting.
Germany’s New Grundsicherung and EU eDeclaration Shake Up Posted-Worker Landscape
Germany’s revamped social-security safety net and an EU agreement on a unified ‘eDeclaration’ portal mark the biggest shake-up of posted-worker compliance in years. Short postings may soon be exempt from the A1 certificate, while smart tachographs become mandatory for light trucks. Companies should reassess mobility workflows before pilot testing starts this autumn.
Cross-border upgrade: Work starts on second phase of Angermünde–Szczecin rail modernisation
Germany and Poland have launched the second, €800-million phase of the Angermünde–Szczecin rail upgrade, adding a second track and electrification that will cut Berlin–Szczecin journey times and expand freight capacity from late 2027. Short-term diversions will inconvenience travellers, but the project promises long-term gains for cross-border business and logistics.