Lufthansa braces for three-day strike
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Lufthansa has cancelled most of its flights on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, due to a strike by its pilots’ union.
What is being billed as one of the biggest walk-outs in Lufthansa’s history will force the German carrier to ground approximately 3,800 flights over the course of the three days, impacting more than 425,000 passengers.
Only about 500 flights will be operated, with all other Lufthansa and Germanwings being cancelled.
The Vereiningung Cockpit union, which represents most of Lufthansa’s 5, 400 pilots, called for the strike over plans to scrap an early retirement deal.
According to Reuters, Lufthansa had accepted a deal from unions but they are unhappy it does not apply to pilots joining this year.
“I greatly regret that the Vereinigung Cockpit is not prepared to settle this by negotiations and to find a solution without engaging in a labour dispute. We made good offers for an improved salary as well as a future provision for early leave from flight service,” said Dr. Bettina Volkens, Lufthansa Group executive board member said in a statement. “Based on this it is difficult to understand that the VC union is calling for a three-day strike right away – both for our customers and the more than hundred thousand colleagues of the other Lufthansa employee groups. We will do our best to care for our customers during the strike.”
The flights of Lufthansa are other subsidiaries, including SWISS and Austrian Airlines, are unaffected.
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