Lufthansa cancels 'almost all' of its flights in Germany due to strike

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German airline Lufthansa announced on Thursday that it will cancel “almost all” of its flights from and to its main airports in Frankfurt and Munich on Friday due to a strike pilots. 

The first European carrier will cancel 800 flights during the day of September 2 due to the social movement announced Wednesday evening amid negotiations on salary increases, according to a communicated, specifying that “130,000 passengers are concerned”.

The strike, which concerns Lufthansa airlines and the Lufthansa cargo branch but spares Eurowings, should last from 00:01 (22:01 GMT) to 23:59 (21:59 GMT).

“The new tariff negotiations (.. .) have failed”, announced the Vereinigung Cockpit union on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, which is demanding a 5.5% wage increase, automatic compensation for inflation and adjustments to the price list.

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Lufthansa has expressed its “complete incomprehension” of the social movement, which comes after a difficult summer for the airline sector due to a shortage of staff at airports and a strike by the company's ground staff in late July. , which has also grounded hundreds of flights.

The group says it has proposed that its pilots “obtain in two stages a total increase of 900 euros per month”.

“ Lufthansa must come up with a better offer,” said trade union official Marcel Gröls.

Lufthansa has around 5,500 pilots in its passenger and freight transport activities. Vereinigung Cockpit is the only union to represent them.

A consultation on the principle of a strike at the end of July had given a majority of 98% in favor of the movement among passenger pilots and 99% at Cargo with a participation of approximately 95% of members.

The group reached an agreement at the beginning of August with the Verdi union which represents ground staff.

Employees will receive a raise of 200 euros per month, then an additional 2.5% in early 2023 and another 2.5% in July 2023.