Lufthansa cancels flights on TA-Frankfurt route
Germany's pilots union instructs airline's pilots to launch strike this week as part of negotiations with company's management. Flights to many destinations canceled, including Israel
Germany is bracing for a four-day strike at flagship airline Lufthansa from Monday that threatens to disrupt travel to and from Europe's biggest economy. As part of the strike, the company's flights on the Tel Aviv-Frankfurt route will be canceled on both directions.
Lufthansa's pilots plan to go on strike in a row over pay and job security, fearing the company could try to cut staff costs by shifting jobs to foreign subsidiaries such as Austrian Airlines or Lufthansa Italia, where wages are lower.
German economy minister Peter Ramsauer demanded both parties restart negotiations to avert a strike after talks were halted on Friday.
On Saturday, the union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) offered new negotiations this weekend to clarify "misunderstandings," but would not drop certain demands that Lufthansa's management had requested, it said.
Travelers to be reimbursed
Lufthansa has already canceled some 600 flights ahead of the strike and is scrambling to rebook travelers on partner airlines or trains.
"Lufthansa is doing everything in its power to inform its customers as soon as possible and offer them alternative travel options," the company said on its website.
Travelers who are unable to reschedule are being reimbursed for their tickets, it said.
The airline, Germany's largest, estimates the strike could cost it as much as €100 million ($135.19 million).
The flights expected to be canceled on the Israel route are:
- Monday-Thursday, February 22-25, Flight 686, Frankfurt-Tel Aviv
- Monday-Thursday, February 22-25, Flight 687 Tel Aviv-Frankfurt
- Tuesday, February 23, Flight 690, Frankfurt-Tel Aviv
- Wednesday, February 24, Flights 691, Tel Aviv-Frankfurt
Lufthansa flights on the Munich-Tel Aviv route will continue as planned, as will Flight 690 from Frankfurt on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and Flight 691 to Frankfurt on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Lufthansa's customer service center can be contacted on 1-800-9371937. Updated information on the flights and expected cancellations is provided on the company's website.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report
