Photos: Lufthansa Cabin Crew Strike: 208 Flights Canceled; Europe, Intercontinental Flights Grounded (PHOTOS)
By Valli Meenakshi Ramanathan | Sep 04, 2012 06:26 PM EDT
The cabin crews of Lufthansa, or LHA, airlines are staging a strike at three German airports Tuesday in their second walkout in a 13-month wage dispute that has resulted in the cancellation of 208 flights in Frankfurt, Bloomberg Businessweek reported.
Reportedly, flight attendants were striking at Frankfurt and Berlin Tuesday morning and will stage the third strike at Munich in the afternoon, the Unabhaengige Flugbegleiter Organisation, or UFO, union said in an emailed statement.
"The call to strike action forces Lufthansa to cancel a majority of flights. Unscheduled cancellations and delays of Lufthansa flights must be anticipated. Flights of Lufthansa Regional (CityLine, Eurowings) and Germanwings will not be affected," the airline stated in a press release issued Tuesday. "However, at this stage, Lufthansa cannot say for sure what exact impact the strike action will have. Even after the end of the strike, Lufthansa foresees irregularities in flight operations."
The first strike walkout was staged Aug. 31 for eight hours. The strike pertains to the differences over pay increases and the implementation of wage scales as the airline implements a 1.5 billion euro ($1.9 billion) savings program.
"We regret that it had to come to this escalation. However, the negotiations have reached a point where it left us no alternative but to strike," the union said in a statement, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.
Europe's second biggest air carrier announced plans to scrap 4,500 administration and catering jobs from its 120,000 strong global workforce. As talks between airlines management and UFO collapsed Aug.28, the union announced short-term strikes followed by walkouts.
Peter Oppitzhauser, an analyst at Credit Agricole, told Bloomberg Businessweek that the strike across Germany might cost Lufthansa 12 million euros ($15 million) a day.
AFP reported that passengers of Lufthansa flights would be informed of the developments by email or text message.
While the union is seeking a five percent increase in remuneration for the cabin staff for 15 months backdated to January, the airline had offered a salary hike of 3.5 percent, the AFP added.
A fresh round of negotiation talks are expected to commence Monday, German magazine Der Spiegel reported, according to Reuters.
A member of German air carrier Lufthansa cabin crew union holds a placard during a strike in Frankfurt.
Source: Reuters Date:09/04/2012
A flight information board shows flights canceled as members of German air carrier Lufthansa cabin crew union UFO attend a wage strike at the Berlin Tegel airport.
Source: Reuters Date:09/05/2012
Members of German air carrier Lufthansa cabin crew union UFO attend a wage strike at Berlin Tegel airport.
Source: Reuters Date:09/05/2012
Members of Lufthansa cabin crew union stand at a strike post in Frankfurt.
Source: Reuters Date:09/04/2012
Passengers queue up at Lufthansa check-in desk at Berlin Tegel airport.
Source: Reuters Date:09/04/2012
A badge with the word "strike!" is pictured on a member of German air carrier Lufthansa cabin crew union UFO attending a wage strike at Berlin Tegel airport.
Source: Reuters Date:09/05/2012
A passenger sits on her suitcase in front of a Lufthansa check-in desk at Berlin Tegel airport.
Source: Reuters Date:09/04/2012
Head of Lufthansa cabin crew union Nicoley Baublies poses for a picture at a strike in Frankfurt.
Source: Reuters Date:09/05/2012
A passenger works on his laptop next to a Lufthansa logo at Berlin Tegel airport.
Source: Reuters Date:09/04/2012
Luggage bags of members from the Lufthansa cabin crew union are seen during a strike in Frankfurt.
Source: Reuters Date:09/04/2012
