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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Lufthansa grounds long-haul flights as strike drags on | Lufthansa grounds long-haul flights as strike drags on |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 100,000 Lufthansa passengers are facing disruption as a strike by pilots dragged on for a third day. | More than 100,000 Lufthansa passengers are facing disruption as a strike by pilots dragged on for a third day. |
| The German airline cancelled about 830 flights on Friday, with long-haul journeys facing disruption over the weekend as the dispute intensifies. | The German airline cancelled about 830 flights on Friday, with long-haul journeys facing disruption over the weekend as the dispute intensifies. |
| Lufthansa has cancelled more than 2,600 flights since pilots first went on strike on Wednesday. | Lufthansa has cancelled more than 2,600 flights since pilots first went on strike on Wednesday. |
| The pilots' union said 88 long-haul flights leaving Germany on Saturday would be hit. | |
| Short and medium-haul flights suffered the worst disruption on Friday, upsetting travel plans for more than 315,000 passengers. | Short and medium-haul flights suffered the worst disruption on Friday, upsetting travel plans for more than 315,000 passengers. |
| Passengers have been advised to check if their flight is operating on LH.com, while the airline is notifying passengers of cancellations by text or email. | Passengers have been advised to check if their flight is operating on LH.com, while the airline is notifying passengers of cancellations by text or email. |
| Lufthansa has urged the pilots' union to enter mediation, but officials have first demanded a better offer from its management. | Lufthansa has urged the pilots' union to enter mediation, but officials have first demanded a better offer from its management. |
| Joerg Handwerg, of the Vereinigung Cockpit union, said: "We will have to keep striking as there is no basis for negotiations or arbitration with Lufthansa at the moment." | |
| The airline has agreed deals with the main unions representing ground staff and cabin crew in Germany. | |
| The pilots' union wants an average annual pay rise of 3.7% for its 5,400 members in Germany, backdated to 2012. Lufthansa has offered 2.5% over six years to 2019. | |
| Carsten Spohr, chief executive of Lufthansa, has claimed that the future of the airline would be threatened if it met the pilots' demands. | Carsten Spohr, chief executive of Lufthansa, has claimed that the future of the airline would be threatened if it met the pilots' demands. |
| Despite a record profit last year, the company said it was forced to slash costs to compete with budget rivals such as Ryanair in Europe and the likes of Emirates on long-haul routes. | Despite a record profit last year, the company said it was forced to slash costs to compete with budget rivals such as Ryanair in Europe and the likes of Emirates on long-haul routes. |
| Lufthansa estimates that the strike - the 14th time pilots have walked out since early 2014 - is costing about €10m a day. | Lufthansa estimates that the strike - the 14th time pilots have walked out since early 2014 - is costing about €10m a day. |
| Board member Harry Hohmeister said on Thursday the action was affecting mid-term bookings. | Board member Harry Hohmeister said on Thursday the action was affecting mid-term bookings. |
| Other airlines owned by Lufthansa, including Germanwings, Austrian Airlines and Swiss, are not affected by the strike. | Other airlines owned by Lufthansa, including Germanwings, Austrian Airlines and Swiss, are not affected by the strike. |
| Virgin threat | Virgin threat |
| Lufthansa shares were down 0.2% at €12.57 in Frankfurt on Friday afternoon and are down 14% this year. | |
| The company carried 107.7m passengers last year, up 1.6% from 2014. Ryanair's total rose 17% to 101.4m. | The company carried 107.7m passengers last year, up 1.6% from 2014. Ryanair's total rose 17% to 101.4m. |
| Separately, Virgin Altantic could be hit by industrial action over Christmas following a decision by the Professional Pilots Union to ballot its members. | Separately, Virgin Altantic could be hit by industrial action over Christmas following a decision by the Professional Pilots Union to ballot its members. |
| The vote, which follows the collapse of union recognition talks, will close on 16 December. Action could potentially start on 23 December - one of the busiest days of the year for air travel - and continue throughout the festive season. | The vote, which follows the collapse of union recognition talks, will close on 16 December. Action could potentially start on 23 December - one of the busiest days of the year for air travel - and continue throughout the festive season. |
| The union said any action would be "short of a strike" and involve "withdrawal of pilot goodwill", such as agreeing to work overtime. | The union said any action would be "short of a strike" and involve "withdrawal of pilot goodwill", such as agreeing to work overtime. |
| That would still affect a "significant number" of flights, according to the union. | That would still affect a "significant number" of flights, according to the union. |