Lufthansa flights may face disruption as pilots call two-day strike from March 12
Pilots at Deutsche Lufthansa AG have called a two-day strike starting March 12, a move that could disrupt hundreds of flights from German airports. The planned walkout comes as the airline faces fuel-price volatility and operational disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran.
The strike is scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. on March 12 and continue until 11:59 p.m. on March 13. According to a Bloomberg report, it will affect flights operated by Lufthansa’s mainline carrier and its cargo operations departing from German airports, according to a statement by the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit. A separate strike at regional carrier Lufthansa CityLine is planned only for March 12.
Flights to the Middle East operated by Lufthansa mainline and Lufthansa CityLine will not be affected by the strike, the union said.
“A strike is always a last resort for us and not an end in itself,” said VC President Andreas Pinheiro, as quoted by Bloomberg. “Employers still have the opportunity to avert industrial action by making a negotiable offer.”
Lufthansa said the short-notice strike announcement would have “an extremely severe and disproportionate impact on our passengers” and urged the union to return to negotiations.
Shares of Deutsche Lufthansa AG fell as much as 2.4% in early trading in Frankfurt on Wednesday. The stock has gained about 10% over the past 12 months through Tuesday’s close.
The planned strike follows a one-day walkout in February that forced the airline to cancel nearly 800 flights and affected around 100,000 passengers. The disruption cost the company about €15 million ($17.4 million), Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr said last week.
Negotiations between the airline and the union have stalled over pilot pension contributions. The union is seeking higher company contributions, while Lufthansa has said there is limited scope to increase them. Pilots earlier had a guaranteed company pension plan that was replaced in 2017 with a capital market-based system, which the union says falls short of the earlier scheme.
At Lufthansa CityLine, the dispute focuses on a new collective wage agreement for cockpit staff. The union rejected management’s proposal made in late February and opposed calls for what it described as an “absolute peace obligation.”
The renewed labour dispute adds pressure on Lufthansa’s efforts to improve profitability. The airline is cutting 4,000 administrative jobs and shifting more short-haul flying to lower-cost units such as City Airlines and Discover Airlines, where crew costs are up to 40% lower than at the mainline carrier.
(With Bloomberg inputs)
The strike is scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. on March 12 and continue until 11:59 p.m. on March 13. According to a Bloomberg report, it will affect flights operated by Lufthansa’s mainline carrier and its cargo operations departing from German airports, according to a statement by the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit. A separate strike at regional carrier Lufthansa CityLine is planned only for March 12.
Flights to the Middle East operated by Lufthansa mainline and Lufthansa CityLine will not be affected by the strike, the union said.
“A strike is always a last resort for us and not an end in itself,” said VC President Andreas Pinheiro, as quoted by Bloomberg. “Employers still have the opportunity to avert industrial action by making a negotiable offer.”
Lufthansa said the short-notice strike announcement would have “an extremely severe and disproportionate impact on our passengers” and urged the union to return to negotiations.
Shares of Deutsche Lufthansa AG fell as much as 2.4% in early trading in Frankfurt on Wednesday. The stock has gained about 10% over the past 12 months through Tuesday’s close.
The planned strike follows a one-day walkout in February that forced the airline to cancel nearly 800 flights and affected around 100,000 passengers. The disruption cost the company about €15 million ($17.4 million), Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr said last week.
Negotiations between the airline and the union have stalled over pilot pension contributions. The union is seeking higher company contributions, while Lufthansa has said there is limited scope to increase them. Pilots earlier had a guaranteed company pension plan that was replaced in 2017 with a capital market-based system, which the union says falls short of the earlier scheme.
At Lufthansa CityLine, the dispute focuses on a new collective wage agreement for cockpit staff. The union rejected management’s proposal made in late February and opposed calls for what it described as an “absolute peace obligation.”
The renewed labour dispute adds pressure on Lufthansa’s efforts to improve profitability. The airline is cutting 4,000 administrative jobs and shifting more short-haul flying to lower-cost units such as City Airlines and Discover Airlines, where crew costs are up to 40% lower than at the mainline carrier.
(With Bloomberg inputs)
Next Story