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Lufthansa strike causes flight cancellations | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
German airline Lufthansa has cancelled the majority of its flights scheduled for Monday due to a strike over pay. | German airline Lufthansa has cancelled the majority of its flights scheduled for Monday due to a strike over pay. |
The airline said only 32 of its flights would run as planned, out of more than 1,700 originally scheduled. | |
Flights to and from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Dublin, Aberdeen and Edinburgh will be hit. German airports affected are Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Hamburg. | Flights to and from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Dublin, Aberdeen and Edinburgh will be hit. German airports affected are Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Hamburg. |
The airline said the strike, the second in two months, was uncalled for. | |
"It's completely out of proportion," a Lufthansa spokesman was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. | "It's completely out of proportion," a Lufthansa spokesman was quoted as saying by the Reuters news agency. |
"Especially given that four further dates for pay talks had already been agreed upon." | "Especially given that four further dates for pay talks had already been agreed upon." |
Only 20 of its planned 1,650 short-haul flights are to go ahead, while 12 of its 73 scheduled long-haul flights will do so. | |
Common tactic | Common tactic |
Ground staff have called a one-day strike amid an ongoing pay dispute with the airline. | Ground staff have called a one-day strike amid an ongoing pay dispute with the airline. |
Like many airlines, Lufthansa is looking to cut costs in the face of stiff competition from low-cost carriers and big Gulf airlines, as well as rising fuel prices. | Like many airlines, Lufthansa is looking to cut costs in the face of stiff competition from low-cost carriers and big Gulf airlines, as well as rising fuel prices. |
Last week, Lufthansa rejected union demands for a 5.2% wage increase over the next 12 months. | Last week, Lufthansa rejected union demands for a 5.2% wage increase over the next 12 months. |
Strikers are also looking for guarantees over job cuts. | Strikers are also looking for guarantees over job cuts. |
Unions staged a similar one-day strike last month. Short "warning strikes" are a common tactic among German unions, designed to put pressure on wage negotiations. | Unions staged a similar one-day strike last month. Short "warning strikes" are a common tactic among German unions, designed to put pressure on wage negotiations. |
In a statement on its website, Lufthansa said passengers should expect "massive" flight cancellations and delays that will start to affect long-haul flights from Sunday. | In a statement on its website, Lufthansa said passengers should expect "massive" flight cancellations and delays that will start to affect long-haul flights from Sunday. |
The airline said it was offering free alternative bookings. | The airline said it was offering free alternative bookings. |