Two months after more than 1,000 Lufthansa flights were canceled because of a pilot strike, the airline is bracing for “significant” disruptions with a new crew member strike set to start Friday.
Reuters reports that Lufthansa’s main cabin crew union will begin a week-long walkout on Friday, marking the eighteenth strike affecting the airline in 18 months.
The union provided few details on the strike, other than to say it wouldn’t begin before 11:00 GMT, meaning we could be waking up to the first reports of delayed and canceled international flights. More information is expected to be released Friday.
Because the particulars weren’t laid out by the union, Lufthansa says it has been unable to determine how many flights will be affected or configure revised travel schedules.
“With only a few hours between any strike announcement and employees stopping work, the effect on passengers is likely to be significant because Lufthansa has no chance to draw up alternative plans,” the airline said in a statement.
The strike was a result of a breakdown in last-minute talks between Lufthansa and the union. According to the airline, the union rejected the latest proposal that would have met demand related to current employees but would have created different retirement benefits and pensions for future employees.
Lufthansa cabin crew to start week-long strike Friday [Reuters]
by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist