UPDATE 2-Strike disrupts Hungary rail, delays at airport
(Releads with new detail, adds Wizz Air)
By Gergely Szakacs
BUDAPEST, Dec 15 (Reuters) - A strike over pay by Hungarian rail workers severely disrupted traffic on most services on Monday and flights from Budapest Airport were delayed by a six-day-old strike for better working conditions.
Railway workers' union VDSZSZ extended a strike it launched in eastern Hungary to all lines after 1700 GMT on Sunday to demand higher wages and a one-off bonus from the sale of state railway firm MAV's freight unit.
The strike, which initially caused only minor disruptions on national rail services, brought almost all trains to a halt on Monday, MAV said.
"Domestic express and intercity rail traffic has practically ceased, and international trains are not leaving for Hungary," MAV communications director Imre Kavalecz said in a statement.
MAV said in a statement that service on some lines resumed after a change of shifts at 0900 GMT, however, traffic remained unpredictable. News agency MTI reported that coach replacement services were operating on some lines.
Separately, a strike by two unions at Budapest Airport, a unit of Germany's Hochtief (HOTG.DE), entered its sixth day on Monday and was expected to cause delays on most departing flights, the airport operator said.
On Sunday, Hungarian airline Malev said it had scrapped 12 of its flights scheduled for Monday. The airport operator said on its website Italian carrier Alitalia AZPIa.MI also cancelled a morning flight scheduled for Rome.
"Budapest Airport expects that, albeit with delays, all (other) flights will be able to take off," it said on its website, adding that inbound flights were not affected by the strike.
It advised passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before departure.
News agency MTI reported low-cost carrier Wizz Air, which said on Sunday it considered legal action against Budapest Airport for the damages it had incurred during the strike, called on unions on Monday to stop the action. Talks between striking unions and the airport operator were scheduled. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs; Editing by Charles Dick)
