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| Lufthansa four-day strike begins | Lufthansa four-day strike begins |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 4,000 pilots at German airline Lufthansa have gone on strike for four days in a dispute over job security. | About 4,000 pilots at German airline Lufthansa have gone on strike for four days in a dispute over job security. |
| The carrier has cancelled about 3,000 flights and has warned of delays both domestically and internationally. | The carrier has cancelled about 3,000 flights and has warned of delays both domestically and internationally. |
| Lufthansa's offer of negotiations with the pilots was not taken up on Sunday before the strike began at midnight (2300 GMT). | Lufthansa's offer of negotiations with the pilots was not taken up on Sunday before the strike began at midnight (2300 GMT). |
| The pilots work at Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and its low-budget subsidiary, Germanwings. | The pilots work at Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and its low-budget subsidiary, Germanwings. |
| The airline normally offers about 1,800 flights daily - of which 160 are long-haul trips. | The airline normally offers about 1,800 flights daily - of which 160 are long-haul trips. |
| Lufthansa is trying to get about 1,000 planes into the air on Monday, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Frankfurt. | Lufthansa is trying to get about 1,000 planes into the air on Monday, says the BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Frankfurt. |
| PASSENGER RIGHTS Lufthansa says that affected passengers can rebook their ticket once to another Lufthansa flight free of charge, provided the original ticket was issued before 18 Feb and the new travel date is before 31 May Anyone wishing to cancel their flight is entitled to a full refundThe airline is offering train journeys to domestic air travellers and attempting to rebook international passengers on other airlines In general, customers are extremely unlikely to have any claim for extra compensation, because the cancellation is not "within the airline's control"If booked as part of a package holiday, contact the agent or operator who will try to find alternative flights but, if that is not possible, will refund the cost of the whole package holidayAnyone who tries to claim for holiday costs through their insurance, should contact their insurer for guidance | PASSENGER RIGHTS Lufthansa says that affected passengers can rebook their ticket once to another Lufthansa flight free of charge, provided the original ticket was issued before 18 Feb and the new travel date is before 31 May Anyone wishing to cancel their flight is entitled to a full refundThe airline is offering train journeys to domestic air travellers and attempting to rebook international passengers on other airlines In general, customers are extremely unlikely to have any claim for extra compensation, because the cancellation is not "within the airline's control"If booked as part of a package holiday, contact the agent or operator who will try to find alternative flights but, if that is not possible, will refund the cost of the whole package holidayAnyone who tries to claim for holiday costs through their insurance, should contact their insurer for guidance |
| It is relying on managers who have pilots' licences to fly some of those planes, as well as some of its regional subsidiaries, he adds. | It is relying on managers who have pilots' licences to fly some of those planes, as well as some of its regional subsidiaries, he adds. |
| 'Disproportionate' | |
| It was also reported that the company had asked a German court to halt the strike. | |
| Lufthansa spokeswoman Claudia Lange told the Associated Press that an injunction had been filed in Frankfurt. | |
| "This strike is disproportionate," she said. "We hope for a decision within the next 24 hours." | |
| Before the strike began, German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer warned that it would hurt the country's economy as well as Lufthansa's reputation. | Before the strike began, German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer warned that it would hurt the country's economy as well as Lufthansa's reputation. |
| The airline - one of the world's largest - fears the strike could cost it about 25m euros (£21.9m; $34m) per day. | The airline - one of the world's largest - fears the strike could cost it about 25m euros (£21.9m; $34m) per day. |
| The pilots are not due to return to work until midnight on Thursday. | The pilots are not due to return to work until midnight on Thursday. |
| Outsourcing fears | Outsourcing fears |
| The Cockpit union says the airline is increasingly relying on foreign pilots who fly for less pay. | The Cockpit union says the airline is increasingly relying on foreign pilots who fly for less pay. |
| It is concerned that the company could try to cut staff costs by shifting jobs to foreign subsidiaries such as Austrian Airlines or Lufthansa Italia, where wages are lower. | It is concerned that the company could try to cut staff costs by shifting jobs to foreign subsidiaries such as Austrian Airlines or Lufthansa Italia, where wages are lower. |
| The starting salary for a first officer in a Lufthansa cockpit is 62,000 euros, and 115,000 euros for a captain, according to the company's recruiting website. Media reports say pilots' salaries can rise up to about 325,000 euros. | The starting salary for a first officer in a Lufthansa cockpit is 62,000 euros, and 115,000 euros for a captain, according to the company's recruiting website. Media reports say pilots' salaries can rise up to about 325,000 euros. |
| Lufthansa says it is trying to rebook passengers as quickly as possible | |
| Cockpit has called for a 6.4% pay rise for pilots, more say in company decisions and commitments that pilots would keep their jobs when Lufthansa moves passengers to cheaper foreign affiliates. | Cockpit has called for a 6.4% pay rise for pilots, more say in company decisions and commitments that pilots would keep their jobs when Lufthansa moves passengers to cheaper foreign affiliates. |
| But Andreas Bartels from the airline told the BBC the pilots' fear that their jobs would be outsourced was unfounded. | But Andreas Bartels from the airline told the BBC the pilots' fear that their jobs would be outsourced was unfounded. |
| "That's what they fear but that's not reality. If you look to the reality, it's nothing like replacing or transferring jobs to other companies or other airlines [in] the Lufthansa airline system," he said. | "That's what they fear but that's not reality. If you look to the reality, it's nothing like replacing or transferring jobs to other companies or other airlines [in] the Lufthansa airline system," he said. |
| He added that Lufthansa would not be dictated to by the unions. | He added that Lufthansa would not be dictated to by the unions. |
| "It's not about money. The unions made it very clear that they're willing to make a compromise when it comes to their claim on money, but it's about political influence on the company's strategy and that is something that we can't accept." | "It's not about money. The unions made it very clear that they're willing to make a compromise when it comes to their claim on money, but it's about political influence on the company's strategy and that is something that we can't accept." |
| Last-minute failure | Last-minute failure |
| Lufthansa was offering train journeys to domestic air travellers, and attempting to rebook international passengers on other airlines. | Lufthansa was offering train journeys to domestic air travellers, and attempting to rebook international passengers on other airlines. |
| Frankfurt and Munich airports will be the worst hit. | Frankfurt and Munich airports will be the worst hit. |
| Hours before the strike began, Lufthansa made a last-ditch effort to resume talks. | Hours before the strike began, Lufthansa made a last-ditch effort to resume talks. |
| LUFTHANSA Founded 1926Passengers: 70 million in 2008Net profit: 599m euros in 2008Flights: 830,800 in 2008 Source: Lufthansa 2008 annual report | LUFTHANSA Founded 1926Passengers: 70 million in 2008Net profit: 599m euros in 2008Flights: 830,800 in 2008 Source: Lufthansa 2008 annual report |
| "We are open to talks without preconditions," Lufthansa spokesman Klaus Walther said. | "We are open to talks without preconditions," Lufthansa spokesman Klaus Walther said. |
| He added that "if Cockpit withdrew its list of unworkable and illegal demands... an agreement could be found quickly". | He added that "if Cockpit withdrew its list of unworkable and illegal demands... an agreement could be found quickly". |
| But Cockpit spokesman Joerg Handwerg said: "The Lufthansa management is not interested in dialogue, but will not say so openly." | |
| Like most other global airlines, Lufthansa has struggled in the downturn. Sales slumped 13% in the first nine months of 2009. | Like most other global airlines, Lufthansa has struggled in the downturn. Sales slumped 13% in the first nine months of 2009. |
| As well as suffering from the more recent drop in consumer demand, the airline has also been facing the long-running threats posed by low-cost airlines and high fuel costs. | As well as suffering from the more recent drop in consumer demand, the airline has also been facing the long-running threats posed by low-cost airlines and high fuel costs. |
| The UK's flagship carrier British Airways has also been locked in a dispute with cabin crew over pay and changes to working condition. | The UK's flagship carrier British Airways has also been locked in a dispute with cabin crew over pay and changes to working condition. |
| The result of a strike ballot by the Unite union is expected at about 1400 GMT on Monday. | The result of a strike ballot by the Unite union is expected at about 1400 GMT on Monday. |
| Do you work for Lufthansa? Do you have flights booked with Lufthansa that could be affected by a strike? Send us your comments using the form below. | Do you work for Lufthansa? Do you have flights booked with Lufthansa that could be affected by a strike? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |