Lufthansa pilots on strike, 800 flights to be cancelled at the moment

Germany’s Lufthansa stated it must cancel 800 flights on Friday, doubtless affecting 130,000 passengers, after the pilots’ union introduced a one-day strike.

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union stated late on Wednesday that pay talks had failed and Lufthansa pilots would stage a 24-hour strike beginning simply after midnight on Thursday, affecting each passenger and cargo providers.

Lufthansa stated flight cancellations would have an effect on Frankfurt and Munich airports, including that a number of flights would additionally should be cancelled on Thursday.

VC is demanding a 5.5 per cent pay rise this 12 months for its greater than 5,000 pilots and computerized inflation compensation thereafter.

“We hope to get back to negotiations as soon as possible,” a Lufthansa spokesperson stated on Thursday. “However, we cannot bear the cost increases associated with VC’s demands either,” he added.

Strikes and workers shortages have already compelled airways together with Lufthansa to cancel hundreds of flights this summer time and induced hours-long queues at main airports, irritating holidaymakers eager to journey after Covid-19 lockdowns.

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Lufthansa has already confronted strike motion this 12 months by safety employees and floor workers over pay.

The airline stated it was doing every part attainable to minimise the consequences of Friday’s pilots’ strike, nevertheless it couldn’t rule out cancellations or delays in some circumstances over the weekend.

Shares within the airline have been down 3.5 per cent at 0930 GMT.

Michael Niggemann, the Lufthansa government board member accountable for human assets, stated the strike was incomprehensible and defended the airline’s “very good and socially balanced” provide.

Lufthansa has provided a complete of 900 euros ($901.35) extra in fundamental pay monthly in two levels over an 18-month time period in addition to an settlement guaranteeing cockpit workers a minimal fleet measurement.

Germany’s cartel workplace on Thursday additionally prohibited Lufthansa from ending long-term cooperation agreements with constitution airline Condor till additional discover, saying the nationwide provider was impeding Condor from competing on long-haul routes.

Lufthansa stated it took word of the cartel workplace’s choice, including: “However, we do not share the Bundeskartellamt’s view and will therefore submit the decision to a judicial review.”

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