Lufthansa cancels 1,200 flights ahead of nationwide strike

PanARMENIAN.Net - A planned nationwide strike by the union representing most of Lufthansa's flight attendants has forced the airline to cancel some 1,200 flights going into the weekend. Trans-Atlantic flights have likewise been affected. Chances that a last-minute compromise will avert the strike are considered slim, Spiegel said.

Most passengers traveling Friday, September 7 on the German national carrier Lufthansa can expect their flights to be canceled.

With the flight attendants' union (UFO) calling for an all-day nationwide strike Friday, the airline has cancelled some 1,200 flights going into the weekend, or almost two-thirds of its planned connections. About 600 flights are supposed to leave on schedule. The cancellations are affecting several long-distance flights, with the company saying that most passengers have already been rebooked. But the airline's domestic and inner-European service will be brought to a virtual standstill.

More than 40 connections scheduled for Thursday have likewise been cancelled. The airline said the measure was taken so that it will be able to offer some flights once the strike comes to an end after Friday. There are concerns that other airlines could also be affected by the strike as happened a week ago when the Frankfurt airport briefly closed to European traffic due to a lack of space for incoming planes.

Lufthansa has posted information on its website in German and English, under "UFO Strike," informing travellers of the cancellations on Friday. After the strike ends, the airline expects "irregularities" in its scheduled flights, according to the site. The site also has a list of phone numbers for further assistance as well as information on how to receive a voucher should passengers wish to travel by train instead.

The airline's board bought advertisements in major German papers Thursday in which it wrote: "We consider this strike to be excessive. It is inflicting large financial damages on the company and is hurting the reputation of the Lufthansa brand."