Lufthansa Strike Paralyze Frankfurt Airport, 100K Travelers in Limbo

Monday, February 19, 2024

Lufthansa cancels 900 flights due to a ground staff strike in ex-Yugoslavia, affecting 100k passengers amidst wage disputes.

Lufthansa is currently facing significant operational disruptions due to a strike by its ground staff, affecting the airline’s services within the territories of the former Yugoslavia. The industrial action, which spans from 4:00 AM CET on Tuesday to 7:10 AM CET on Wednesday, has necessitated the cancellation of about 900 out of 1,000 flights that were originally scheduled during this period. This has resulted in approximately 100,000 passengers being affected by the cancellations. Additionally, the timing of the strike means several flights scheduled for departure this evening will not operate as planned, since their return flights coincide with the strike period.

The strike is a consequence of ongoing disputes between the labor union representing Lufthansa’s ground staff and the airline itself. The core issues include demands for a 12.5% increase in wages and a singular bonus to offset inflation, benefiting around 25,000 employees of Lufthansa. This industrial action is part of a broader wave of strikes affecting German airports, which has seen a significant impact on flight operations earlier in the month, including security personnel demanding higher wages.

Previously, on February 1st, a wave of strikes by security staff led to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights at eleven major German airports, impacting more than 200,000 passengers. Additionally, January witnessed strikes by ground and security staff at airports in Hamburg and Berlin, marking a period of increased labor unrest within the aviation industry. These series of strikes underscore the growing tensions between airline staff and management over wage issues and working conditions, leading to widespread disruption in flight schedules.

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