A strike by pilots demanding higher wages forced Germany’s Lufthansa AG to suspend nearly all flights in Frankfurt and Munich on Friday, adding another day of major disruption to the already summer travel chaos. In total, about 130,000 passengers have been affected as Lufthansa has canceled 800 flights at its two biggest hubs in Germany, according to the company.
The airline said there could be disruptions as early as Thursday. Lufthansa fell up to 4% in Frankfurt.
Lufthansa pilots have called for a one-day strike after collective bargaining failed. Lufthansa said it was “completely unsympathetic” to the strike decision after making a “very good and socially balanced proposal”.
Bowing to a pilot’s demands increases his labor costs by more than 40%, according to the airline. It’s the second time in just over a month that the strike has forced Europe’s biggest airline to shut down operations almost completely at its two main airports.
Most recently, ground staff in Frankfurt and Munich demanded better wages in late July, bringing business to a halt and the two cities canceling more than 1,000 of his flights.
A faster-than-expected recovery in air travel collided with airline and airport staff shortages following heavy cuts during the Covid-19 pandemic. This led to a summer of turmoil in the industry, with Lufthansa and other airlines canceling thousands of flights. Rising inflation, meanwhile, unleashes a wave of industrial action.
Lufthansa’s HR chief, Michael Nigemann, said in a statement that it “hopes for a solution at the negotiating table” and that what the company has presented is “a good basis for further discussions”. added.
Conversely, the VC Pilots’ Union demanded that the airline submit a “significantly improved offer.” “We are too far apart at the moment,” said Marcel Groels, head of collective bargaining for Pilots Union VC, on air.
Lufthansa sank 23 cents lower to her 5.7 euros in Frankfurt, its sharpest drop since 22 August. Shares are down about 7.5% this year.
Industrial actions have shaken an industry trying to regain its foot after years of pandemic restrictions.
British Airways pilots have also threatened to strike, and negotiations are ongoing.
The airline agreed with check-in staff to Bumper 13. al in July to avoid a planned strike at the height of the summer travel season. said cockpit labor costs would increase from €2.2 billion ($2.2 billion) to more than €900 million.
The airline announced last month that it had reached a collective bargaining agreement with the Verdi union, which represents 20,000 ground crew. Wage increases ranged from 13.6% to 18.6% after warning strikes at the airline’s Munich and Frankfurt hubs led to hundreds of cancellations.
Pilots of Lufthansa budget airline Eurowings went on strike Thursday, urging airlines to come to an agreement on wages, working hours, and rest periods. The VC union said Eurowings’ vote was not a decision to strike, but a reminder to airlines to find a solution.
Disk Out His unit operations will not be affected by Friday’s strike, Lufthansa said.
