FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) – Even on its 100th anniversary, Lufthansa faces the threat of strikes. For this Thursday, simultaneous walkouts have been announced by both pilots and cabin crew – including at Germany's largest airport in Frankfurt. Lufthansa states that passengers will be hit "extremely hard and disproportionately" by the short-notice strikes.
Which flights are canceled?
Lufthansa has announced extensive cancellations for Thursday, without specifying the exact number of flights affected. On Frankfurt's digital departure boards, a large number of Lufthansa flights are marked as canceled, although a few connections appear to still be offered. Passengers are urged to provide their contact details. All affected passengers will be automatically notified in any case.
In principle, the crew unions intend to halt all departures from Germany throughout the day. Pilots are striking at both Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo. The cabin crew union Ufo has also called for a warning strike at the core Lufthansa company as well as at its regional subsidiary Cityline. In addition to the hubs of Frankfurt and Munich, airports in Hamburg, Bremen, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Hanover are also directly affected.
What can be expected specifically at Frankfurt Airport?
Since about 70 percent of flights in Frankfurt are operated by Lufthansa, numerous cancellations are to be expected. Depending on how well-informed passengers are in advance, terminals may also be quite empty.
Passengers should rely on the information provided, advises a Frankfurt Airport spokesperson. "Coming to the airport just to see if anything else is flying is a bad idea." Originally, 1,074 flight movements were planned at the hub, with around 140,000 passengers. Market sources estimate that more than 200 Lufthansa Classic departures will be canceled in Frankfurt alone.
How can affected passengers proceed?
Lufthansa promises quick assistance to affected passengers and is offering free rebooking in the event of cancellations. Domestic tickets can be converted into rail tickets. Lufthansa will also attempt to rebook passengers onto flights not affected by the strike.
"If you have a connecting flight from Frankfurt, we recommend allowing enough transfer time from train to plane when planning your rail journey to the airports," states Lufthansa's website.
Which airlines are still operating?
Essentially, all carriers not part of the Lufthansa Group are unaffected. Major operators in Germany include Ryanair, Easyjet, and Condor. But even within the Lufthansa Group, not all airlines are on strike. Flights operated by the foreign carriers Swiss, Austrian, Ita, and Brussels Airlines, as well as the German subsidiaries Eurowings and Discover, are not affected by the strike call. Eurowings has announced a total of eight additional flights on north-south routes from Hamburg and Düsseldorf to Munich. The impact on the operations of subsidiary Lufthansa City Airlines remains unclear.
What rights do passengers have?
In the event of a strike by its own staff, the airline must compensate passengers for cancellations or significant delays. Depending on flight distance, compensation ranges from €250 to €600. Airlines must also organize alternative transport as quickly as possible, including with other carriers or connecting flights. For domestic flights, rail tickets are also an option. Those who forgo travel can claim a refund of the ticket price. Passengers stranded at the airport are entitled to food and drinks, as well as two free phone calls. If the delay is prolonged, the airline must also pay for hotel accommodation.
Why are they striking?
Officially, the roughly 4,800 pilots are striking for higher employer contributions to company and transitional pensions. Since autumn, there has been a member ballot with a clear majority in favor of industrial action. The union had refrained from striking in recent months. After seven rounds of negotiations, the union reports that even their latest offer received no response.
The cabin crew union Ufo is seeking to force negotiations on collective agreements at the core Lufthansa company and regional subsidiary Cityline with a warning strike, without a member ballot among the nearly 20,000 employees. Around 800 jobs are said to be at risk there due to corporate strategy. Ufo wants to negotiate a social plan, which management has so far refused./ceb/DP/zb
