Lufthansa: Cancels ‘almost all’ of its flights on 9/2 due to pilot strike

German airline Lufthansa today announced the cancellation of “almost all” of its flights to and from the main airports of Frankfurt and Munich tomorrow, Friday, due to a pilot strike.

Europe’s biggest carrier will cancel 800 flights through September 2 due to the strike announced last night following negotiations over wage increases, according to a statement, which said “130,000 passengers are affected”.

The strike, which concerns Lufthansa companies and Lufthansa cargo, but not Eurowings, is expected to last from one minute after midnight (00:01) local time (01:00 tomorrow Friday, Greek time) until 23: 59 (00:59 on Saturday, Greek time).

“New negotiations (…) have failed,” the Vereinigung Cockpit union, which is demanding 5.5% wage increases, automatic inflation compensation and other adjustments, announced overnight.

Lufthansa said it “doesn’t understand at all” the reasons for the strike action after a difficult summer for the airline sector due to airport staff shortages and a ground staff strike at the end of July that also grounded hundreds of flights.

The group said it offered its pilots “to receive in two phases a total increase of 900 euros per month”.

“Lufthansa must make a better offer,” said Marcel Grohls, a union official.

Lufthansa employs around 5,500 pilots in passenger and freight transport. The Vereinigung Cockpit is the only trade union that represents them.

A consultation on the principle of a strike at the end of July had given a majority of 98% in favor of pilot strike action in passenger transport and 99% in Cargo with a turnout of around 95%.

The group reached an agreement in early August with the Verdi union representing ground staff.

Employees will receive an increase of 200 euros per month and then an additional 2.5% in early 2023 and 2.5% in July 2023.

SOURCE: APE-ME