COLOGNE (dpa-AFX) - German aviation group Deutsche Lufthansa AG (DLAKY, DLAKF) revealed Sunday on their social media site that the pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit have announced a strike again for continental flights from 13.00 on Monday, October 20 to 23.59 on Tuesday, October 21. The move comes as part of the unions continuing dispute over retirement benefits.
Lufthansa has also been plagued by strikes since April this year, and this is the eight strike called by the pilots union since then. In the earlier strikes Lufthansa has managed to fly some of the flights with the support of pilots not taking part in the strike and by rescheduling flight times.
In the most recent strike, the long-haul routes to/from Frankfurt were affected on September 30 and Lufthansa Cargo on October 8 and 9.
The pilots union, representing about 5,400 Lufthansa pilots, oppose the abolishing of a retiring scheme that allows them to retire early at the age of 55 years instead of 65 years and still receive 60 percent of pay for ten years before they start receiving regular pension from the normal retirement age of 65 years.
Lufthansa said in a Facebook post today that all short and medium haul flights operated by the aircraft types A320, Boeing 737, and Embraer departing during the strike period from/to Frankfurt, Munich, and Düsseldorf will be affected. Lufthansa said about 1,450 flights will be canceled during the period, with more than 200,000 customers being affected.
However, Lufthansa added that all Lufthansa long-haul flights as well as all flights of its Lufthansa Group airlines Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Germanwings and will operate as scheduled.
The airline has urged affected passengers to please check the status of their flight and booking prior to departure on the site.
Lufthansa said it regrets any inconvenience caused by the strike measures by the pilots union VC and will do its utmost to minimize impact on passengers.
Major European airlines such as Lufthansa and French rival Air France are struggling to cut cost amid stiff competition with budget airlines.
In Frankfurt's XETRA exchange, the company's shares closed Friday's regular trading session at 11.66 euros, up 0.27 euros or 2.37% on a volume of 8.74 million shares.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX