Lufthansa continues future strategy despite 11th pilot strike

Lufthansa continues future strategy despite 11th pilot strike
By admin


Europe's biggest airline, Germany's Lufthansa, is set to be hit by its 11th pilots' strike of 2014 after a leading union called for another stoppage to long-haul and cargo flights.

The Vereinigung Cockpit union scheduled the new strike to start at 3am (1300 AEDT) on Thursday and end at one minute to midnight.

The announcement was made just as a 36-hour strike that began on Monday was coming to an end.

That stoppage caused more than 1,000 flights to be scrapped, disrupting services to and from Germany's busy Frankfurt hub, and causing disruption at Lufthansa destinations including London, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Seoul and Tel Aviv.

Short-haul and medium-haul services and those operated by Lufthansa's low-cost subsidiary Germanwings will not be affected by Thursday's strike, the union said.

The strikes come as the airline announces its plans to launch budget long-haul services at the end of next year in collaboration with SunExpress, a joint venture with Turkish Airlines.

Lufthansa's supervisory board gave the go-ahead to expand the company's low-cost operations on Wednesday, a meeting that came amid a battle with a union representing pilots at the airline.

Lufthansa is citing increasingly tough competition as it sets out its future plans.

The latest talks between the airline and the pilots' representatives broke down on Friday, prolonging a dispute that centres on transitional pension arrangements for about 5,400 pilots.

At present, the pilots are allowed to retire at 55 and receive up to 60 per cent of their pay until they reach the statutory retirement age of 65.

Lufthansa says the combined strike action this year has cost it about 170 million euros ($A254.99 million).

Pilots say they are also concerned about the airline's future strategy, including plans for a new long-haul budget subsidiary, as Lufthansa grapples with competition chiefly from low-cost carriers.

The airline hopes that its first budget long-haul plans will go ahead despite the recent disputes, with destinations including locations in Florida, southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, initially using three Airbus A330s.

Latest News

  • News
  • Tourism

ATIA announces new director as Laura Ruffles steps down

The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) has announced the appointment of Danielle Russom as vice chair while Jamie Pherous replaced Laura Ruffles as director. The changes follow Laura Ruffles’ resignation from the Board. Laura joined the Board as an alternate director in December 2015, before becoming a full director in July 2019. During her time […]

  • News
  • Partner Content
  • Women In Travel

Women in Travel: Inside Travel Group’s Amanda Highfield on where there’s still work to be done

In travel, the issues around gender equality are complex. Whilst there are plenty of women who work in travel, the demographic of the industry is not always reflected at the top where men still hold a disproportionate number of roles. In this interview with Travel Weekly, Inside Travel Group’s national sales manager Amanda Highfield speaks […]

  • Hotels
  • Travel Agents

Club Med launches Endless Summer Sale offering up to 30% discounts for 2025 summer season

Travel agents are in for a treat as Club Med announces its highly anticipated Endless Summer Sale 2025, offering up to 30 per cent off on luxurious, all-inclusive holidays for next year’s summer season. The sale runs from 17 October to 2 December 2024 and promises unbeatable savings across a selection of Club Med’s sun-kissed […]

  • Hotels

Movenpick launches the 2024 Kilo of Kindness campaign

Movenpick Hotels and Resorts has announced the launch of its 2024 Kilo of Kindness campaign, inviting guests and local communities to contribute food items, clothing, and educational supplies. They have been anchored in the spirit of generosity, and this year, more than 75 hotels and resorts across 30 countries will come together to support their […]

  • Women In Travel

Today is your last chance to enter Travel Weekly’s Women in Travel Awards

If you’ve been sitting on the fence about entering this year’s Women in Travel Awards, then now is your time to make the leap. The Women in Travel Awards highlights the incredible work of women within the travel industry and is open to female-identifying talent across all levels of their careers. It takes just 10 […]