Lufthansa to Cancel 1,000 Flights on Wednesday as Pilots Extend Strike Action

Photo source: Lufthansa

The Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union has announced that it will continue its strike action on Wednesday, September 9, affecting Lufthansa short- and medium-haul services from Germany. The strike will begin at 00:01 GMT until 23:59 GMT.

The announcement follows the union’s strike action on Tuesday, which affected long-haul services.

According to reports, the pilot union has called the strikes due to a long-running dispute with management over pay, retirement benefits and cost cuts. Tuesday’s strike was the 13th in 18 months.

Lufthansa said it expects to cancel some 1,000 flights on Wednesday, affecting 140,000 travellers.

According to Lufthansa, the services of Germanwings, Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines are not affected, and will operate as scheduled.

Lufthansa’s long-haul network will also see some cancellations on Wednesday. “Fifty-two of the 176 long-haul services planned for Wednesday, September 9, will have to be cancelled as a result of the strike action, partly because – as a consequence of today’s (Tuesday’s) strike – the aircraft concerned are not yet back where they need to be to operate tomorrow’s (Wednesday’s) services as scheduled”, Lufthansa said.

Any customers whose flight is cancelled as a result of the strike will be able to rebook or to cancel their booking free of charge or penalty.