Budapest  - One of three terminals at Budapest's Ferihegy International Airport was closed from 4 pm (1500 GMT) on Monday as ground staff resumed a strike over pay and conditions.

"Management has made no serious attempt in the past few weeks to solve the industrial dispute," the two unions behind the strike said in a statement.

Budapest Airport announced that passengers should expect delays of a few hours, but no cancellations should be necessary.

Domokos Szollar, spokesman for the airport manager, announced the closure of Terminal 1 shortly after the resumption of the strike was announced. All processing of passenger and aircraft was being transferred to the airports other two terminals, he added.

"Aircraft are leaving from Terminal 2B and ticket processing is taking place at 2A," said Szollar. He added that 164 of 243 ground staff scheduled to work had remained at their posts.

The ground staff began their industrial action on December 10, demanding that Budapest Airport (BA), the operator of Hungary's only major international airport end a personnel restructuring programme and extend a collective employment contract.

Unions leaders also demanded backdated overtime payments and a pledge from management that there will be no job cuts before 2010 and no further outsourcing.

The strike was suspended after two weeks on December 23, since when talks with management have continued. dpa