Lufthansa passengers are having to endure the airline’s eighth strike this year with a 35-hour stoppage by pilots that is being extended to cover long-haul flights.
Industrial action is due to start on Lufthansa’s short-haul services from 13.00 German time today (October 20) which will affect short and medium-haul services, with 1,450 flights being cancelled.
The stoppage is being expanded to cover Lufthansa’s intercontinental flights throughout tomorrow (October 21). The flight cancellations are due to end at 23.59 local time on Tuesday.
Pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit said its members would today be taking industrial action for all Lufthansa flights operated by Airbus A320, Boeing 737 and Embraer aircraft. The union is in dispute with Lufthansa over the airline’s plans to change pilots’ retirement and pension terms.
Vereinigung Cockpit last week held a 12-hour stoppage for its members working for Lufthansa’s no-frills subsidiary Germanwings. Lufthansa said the strike would not affect flights with sister brands Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Germanwings, Swiss or Air Dolomiti.
Rob Gill