Lufthansa Airlines Cancelled Flights on Monday Due to the Ongoing Flight crew Strike
Amidst the unresolved retirement wage war between the main flight crew union, UFO and the management of the German Airlines, Deutsche Lufthansa, thus strike protest of the airlines crews, the German carrier decided to cancel its flights affecting hundreds of passengers.
According to Reuters, Lufthansa made an announcement on Sunday to halt 929 flights on Monday as the German Airlines' flight crews are commencing strike as part of their week-long protest. Lead by the main flight crew union UFO, they aimed to push their demands regarding the early retirement benefits and pensions resulting on the long continuing dispute with the airlines officials.
The Lufthansa said 113,000 passengers are affected as the strike is still ongoing. The flight crew started the walk out protest on Friday refusing to operate the flight service. On Saturday, the airlines employees continued in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, but returned on Sunday. Monday's action expands the strike to a third hub for the airline, the WSJ reported.
The German airlines said they would inform further announcement of the affected flight schedules and customers and also providing alternatives when possible. It is the latest strike for the German airline this year as Lufthansa plans to cut costs to become more competitive from other budget airlines also such as from the expanding leading Middle East carriers.
The spokesperson of Lufthansa also called the strike "unprecedented in the history of Lufthansa." However, despite of it, still More than 2,000 flights operated by the Lufthansa Group are expected to operate as scheduled. Other subsidiaries of Lufthansa such as the Austrian Airlines, Germanwings, Lufthansa CityLine and Swiss are not affected, according to Time.
The week-long walkout protests of the flight crew have lost the German Airlines' profit of €130 million. The strike on Monday will greatly affect the short- and long-haul flights under the Lufthansa brand at Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf from 0330 GMT.