Deutsche Lufthansa said it was cancelling more than 1,000 flights ahead of a one-day walkout by ground staff scheduled for Wednesday, just as families across Germany head off on their summer holidays.
Strikes and staff shortages have already forced airlines including Lufthansa to cancel thousands of flights and caused hours-long queues at major airports, frustrating holidaymakers keen to travel after COVID-19 related lockdowns.
A union representing 20,000 Lufthansa ground staff is planning to go on a one-day strike that will hit airports in Germany and add to the chaos seen across the entire travel industry this summer.
The walkout will start at 03:45 on Wednesday and end at 06:00 on Thursday local time, the United Services Union, or ver.di, said in a statement on Monday Industrial action will affect major hubs in Germany including Frankfurt, Berlin, and Dusseldorf.
As the union’s members include Lufthansa maintenance staff and those operating vehicles that push aircraft into appropriate positions, “there will be major flight cancellations and delays to come,” ver.di warned in the statement.
The walkout will start at 03:45 on Wednesday and end at 06:00 on Thursday local time, the United Services Union, or ver.di, said in a statement on Monday Industrial action will affect major hubs in Germany including Frankfurt, Berlin, and Dusseldorf.
As the union’s members include Lufthansa maintenance staff and those operating vehicles that push aircraft into appropriate positions, “there will be major flight cancellations and delays to come,” ver.di warned in the statement.
skyrocketing inflation, which hit 8.2% in June. “They urgently need more money and they need relief — for themselves and for the passengers. The employer’s offer is not sufficient for this,” deputy chairperson Christine Behle said in a Monday statement. She also asked for understanding from passengers.
Lufthansa said the planned strike is “unreasonable.”
“After the enormous efforts to stabilise our flight operations, this represents a renewed, substantial and unnecessary burden for our
passengers and also for our employees beyond the strike day,” said Michael Niggemann, Lufthansa’s chief human resources officer in a statement on Monday.
The aviation sector is dealing with a messy summer travel season with flight delays, lost bags, and chaos across the industry — and particularly in Europe — as demand has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Issues faced y the airline include staff shortages and bad weather.
Lufthansa and the ver.di union will hold their next round of negotiations on August 3 and August 4.
- Lufthansa ground staff are planning a strike from 03:45 on Wednesday to 06:00 on Thursday local time.
- The union representing 20,000 Lufthansa ground staff are demanding higher wages.
- The strike will hit airports in Germany including Frankfurt and Berlin, adding to travel chaos.