Fresh turmoil awaits British travelers as a new series of pilot strikes impacts one of Europe’s major airline conglomerates.
Holiday plans have been thrown into disarray following a recent two-day strike at Lufthansa, resulting in numerous flight cancellations across Europe, including disruptions at various UK airports.
The pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has now announced additional strike actions affecting the main airline and its affiliated branches such as Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa CityLine, and Eurowings.
Scheduled to commence from 12:01 am on April 16 until 11:59 pm on April 17, the strike will primarily impact departures from German airports, potentially affecting routes to the UK.
Flights to select Middle Eastern destinations will be exempt due to ongoing regional tensions, including services to countries like Egypt, Israel, and the UAE.
Union president Andreas Pinheiro expressed frustration over the impasse in negotiations, citing a lack of progress from employers on key issues like pensions and pay agreements within the airline group.
The ongoing dispute has led to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights, affecting more than 4,500 UK passengers caught up in the chaos.
Numerous flights from London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, and Edinburgh to Frankfurt or Munich have been axed, with Lufthansa announcing disruptions to their short-haul and long-haul schedules.
Eurowings, facing significant flight cancellations at Frankfurt Airport, plans to operate 60% of its regular services amid the strike.
Munich Airport has witnessed approximately 720 flight cancellations over the past two days due to the ongoing industrial action.
