A three-hour ground crew strike at Budapest's Ferihegy International Airport triggered delays for some passengers, Budapest Airport Spokesman Domokos Szollar said on Tuesday.

 

The strike caused one or two hours' delay to ten arrival and 12 departure flights, Malev Hungarian Airline communications manager Krisztina Nemeth said, adding that Malev flights would not be affected and that no flights had been cancelled.

 

The ground crew, employees of Celebi Ground Services, called the strike on Tuesday evening after being offered a small pay hike, which would have boosted bonuses by between 1 and 3 percent but would not have increased basic salaries. Their union is demanding an 18-20 percent increase. The company has 608 employees.

 

There are two other ground services companies at the airport, one operated by Malev and the other by SkyEurope. SkyEurope limits its services to its own craft.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2007)