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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Lufthansa four-day strike begins | Lufthansa four-day strike begins |
| (10 minutes 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 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 |
| 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 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 tried a last-ditch effort to resume talks. | Hours before the strike began, Lufthansa tried a last-ditch effort to resume talks. |
| "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". |
| The union wants all Lufthansa pilots, including those working for affiliated airlines overseas, to be paid the same. | The union wants all Lufthansa pilots, including those working for affiliated airlines overseas, to be paid the same. |
| Its suggestion on Sunday that that particular issue be put aside while other issues were discussed was rejected by managers, according to the AFP news agency. | |
| Cockpit spokesman Joerg Handwerg said: "The Lufthansa management is not interested in dialogue but will not say so openly." | Cockpit spokesman Joerg Handwerg said: "The Lufthansa management is not interested in dialogue but will not say so openly." |
| 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 |