Lufthansa pilots will stage another strike protesting their early retirement scheme tomorrow.
The industrial action is scheduled to take place at Frankfurt airport between 0600 and 2100 local time.
As a result, the German airline has cancelled 50 long-haul flights to and from the airport, its main hub.
The news comes just hours after Air France pilots this morning called off their two-week strike protesting plans to transfer jobs to Transavia, although an agreement has yet to be reached (see news, September 29).
The Lufthansa strike has been called by the Vereinigung Cockpit union, which is protesting plans to change the current scheme that sees pilots retire at 55 and retain some of their pay until they reach the state pension age.
Earlier this month, Lufthansa pilots went on strike at Munich airport (see news, September 9) and at Frankfurt airport (see news, September 5), while a walkout in late August saw 70 per cent of flights operated by Lufthansa's budget carrier Germanwings cancelled (see news, August 28).
Two weeks ago, a strike at Frankfurt airport was called off at the last minute (see news, September 15).
And, in April a three-day pilots' strike saw Lufthansa cancel 3,800 flights (see news, April 1).
The frequent strike action by Lufthansa and Air France pilots is the result of the long-established carriers clashing with unions as they try to cut costs to compete with budget airlines.
Lufthansa said in a statement today: "The continuing strikes by Vereinigung Cockpit cause damage with unforeseeable consequences for all 120,000 employees, including the pilots."
Graham Smith
