BERLIN, Sept. 7 (UPI) — Lufthansa has canceled about half the long-haul flights scheduled for Tuesday after the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union in Germany called for an all-day strike.
This will be the 13th strike in 18 months as Vereinigung Cockpit’s dispute over pay, retirement benefits and cost cuts continues. The strike will affect long-haul passenger and cargo flights out of Germany.
Lufthansa will still operate 90 out of 170 flights scheduled for Tuesday. Vereinigung Cockpit has said it offered concessions, including increasing the average retirement age to 60, but talks between the union and Lufthansa deteriorated again last week.
“Lufthansa regrets any inconveniences caused and will do its best to keep possible disruptions to a minimum,” the company said in a statement. “Despite the labor action Lufthansa is able to offer 90 of the scheduled long-haul flights to its passengers and all cargo flights.”
Lufthansa is attempting to cut costs to maintain its market share through Eurowings, Lufthansa’s budget airline.
