Lufthansa has cancelled approximately 900 flights at the start of a three-day strike by pilots, which is expected to affect around 425,000 passengers. The airline anticipates that a total of 3,000 flights will be grounded during one of the largest stoppages in its history.
The pilots, represented by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, are demanding improved pay and pension terms. Each side blames the other for the breakdown in negotiations, with the union claiming that Lufthansa has not presented a 'negotiable offer'.
Lufthansa has sought to minimise disruption by rebooking passengers onto other airlines or train services. The airline stated that passengers were warned via email and text message, and emergency sleeping arrangements and food have been prepared at major airports for those who did not receive the alerts.
The strike has also affected Lufthansa's budget arm, Germanwings, and its freight carrier, Lufthansa Cargo. However, subsidiaries such as Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa Cityline are not impacted. No major disruption has been reported at the airline's main hubs in Frankfurt and Munich.
Lufthansa estimates that the industrial action will cost it tens of millions of euros. This strike follows a separate dispute last week when public sector workers walked out at seven German airports, causing hundreds of flight cancellations unrelated to the airline.
