Lufthansa pilots stage walkout on September 8 & 9/2015 ; 140,000 Travelers Affected

Lufthansa German Airlines Pilots Stage Walkout on 08 & 09 September 2015

Lufthansa pilots, represented by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, have started a two-day walkout, which will affect operations Sept. 8-9. Lufthansa said in a Sept. 8 statement that 140,000 travelers are affected as it canceled 1,000 flights.

The first day will affect long-haul and cargo flights, while the second day will target Lufthansa’s short- and medium-haul network, including Germanwings.

VC, which is staging the walkout in a dispute over pay and conditions, said Lufthansa’s Airbus A330, A340, A380, and Boeing 747 departures from Germany between 0800 and 2359 on Sept. 8 would be affected, along with all Lufthansa Cargo departures.

During normal operations, Lufthansa would have operated 1,500 passenger and seven cargo flights on Sept. 8. The German carrier said it was bringing in volunteer pilots and it only expected to cancel 84 of 170 long-haul flights. It will maintain 90 intercontinental and all seven scheduled cargo flights.

“With a relatively large number of cockpit personnel indicating their willingness to fly, the airline will be able to operate more than half of its intercontinental passenger services despite the VC’s strike call. All in all, 84 long-haul services from or to Frankfurt, Munich or Düsseldorf will have to be canceled, while 90 such flights can be operated,” Lufthansa said.

On Sept. 9, the short- and medium-haul strike is due to run from 0001 until 2359. VC said all A320, 737 and Embraer departures from Germany would be affected.

VC spokesman Markus Wahl said the walkout was a “last resort” after the two sides failed to reach agreement in their collective labor negotiations, which are focused on growth,cost control and the Eurowings project.