Hundreds of Flights Cancelled After Lufthansa Pilots Strike

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union stated that Lufthansa pilots would begin a 24-hour strike starting at midnight Thursday. The reason: the airline's 5,000-member union went on strike after being denied a requested 5.5% pay increase and automatic inflation bumps. The pilots are also seeking a new pay and holiday structure that Lufthansa said would bring staff costs up 40% or around 900 million euros ($899 USD) within the next two years.

"Lufthansa has to cancel almost all flights to and from Frankfurt and Munich for Friday, September 2," the airline said in a statement, adding that it will have a "massive impact on flight operations in the middle of return season at the end of summer holidays in Germany and other European countries."

By noon in Germany, 600 flights had been canceled, equating to 66% of the airline's schedule. The most affected airports were Frankfurt and Munich, which had cancellations totaling 34% and 27% respectively. 

"We have not received a sufficient offer today, either. This is sobering and a missed opportunity," said Matthias Baier, spokesperson of the union organizing the strike.

Members of the other party have a slightly different outlook. "I don't think this [strike] is appropriate. It's the main travel season and it's at very short notice," said Andrea Buchloh-Adler at Frankfurt airport. "Pilots are not low-earners. They are certainly not hit as hard by the energy crisis and inflation as many others who do their work every day." 

The German Airline has offered a one-off increase of 900 Euros in basic pay per month in two stages over a period of eighteen months, which is calculated to result in an 18% higher pay for entry-level jobs and a 5% higher pay for senior-level jobs. Michael Niggemann, the Lufthansa executive board member responsible for human resources, said the German carrier had made a good, balanced offer during talks and the strike would inconvenience several thousand customers.

After deliberation over the weekend, the two parties reached an agreement, and the strike has been terminated.