Lufthansa to cancel 1,000 flights tomorrow as pilots extend strikes
German airline Lufthansa will cancel 1,000 flights tomorrow, after the pilot strike was extended into a second day and ramped up a notch.
Lufthansa said its pilots' union broadened strike action from long-haul flights to medium- and short-haul services, meaning around 140,000 passengers will have to endure cancellations tomorrow.
But it said 500 flights will still run, adding that passengers should check its website for details.
The airline cancelled 84 long-haul flights today, affecting 20,000 passengers.
Lufthansa is involved in a long-running dispute with union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) over pay, benefits and cost cuts.
VC wants Lufthansa to stop employing staff on non-German contracts for the expansion of its budget airline Eurowings, which has an Austrian operating licence.
The changes being made by the airline are part of a bid to fend off competition from low-cost rivals, such as Ryanair, through Eurowings.
"Any customers whose flight is cancelled as a result of the strike will be able to rebook or to cancel their booking free of charge or penalty," Lufthansa said in a statement.
"Lufthansa is doing its utmost to minimise the impact of this strike action on its customers."