Pilot strike grounds 400.000 passengers

After the public strike, the pilot strike hits Germany. Almost half a million passengers will be grounded later this week. Lufthansa will cancel almost 4.000 flights, most of the international flights. 

There is a strike in Germany almost every single week. After the public workers union strike that grounded about 600 flights, now the pilots are announcing a general strike. Cockpit Union confirmed today 3.800 flights arriving and leaving Germany will be grounded next days.

The measure will affect 425.000 passengers according to Cockpit union figures. Most flights belong to Lufthansa, the biggest German operator. Domestic and European flights will carry on via Eurowings, LufthansaCity and Air Dolomiti, all Lufthansa Group companies that decided not to participate.

Lufthansa confirmed it will announce all affected passengers via text message or email about the changes. Not only passenger flights will be grounded, but also cargo planes. 23 out of 31 Lufthansa Cargo planes will be grounded.

German pilots of Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings are demanding better provisions for pilots nearing retirement age and higher salaries. “I deeply regret that Cockpit union is not prepared to come to a solution via negotiation and without a strike,” stated Bettina Volkes, Lufthansa Personnel Chief.

Lufthansa is reckoning it will lose almost ten million euros in the three day pilot strike this week.