Lufthansa flights grounded another day

Lufthansa flights grounded another day

A strike by cabin crew on Germany’s biggest airline Lufthansa is set to continue despite a new offer from the company.

The flight attendants’ union UFO announced the strike would continue on Tuesday at the three biggest airports in the country, in Frankfurt, Duesseldorf and Munich.

However, Lufthansa management said nearly all internal and European flights would go ahead along with “some” long-haul flights.

Around 27,300 passengers would be affected as 136 of the scheduled 3000 flights would have to be cancelled, Lufthansa added.

On Monday, Lufthansa scrapped 929 flights, grounding 113,000 passengers.

The action, which began on Friday, is expected to last a week, becoming the longest in Lufthansa’s history as both sides fail to agree on cost cuts.

Nicoley Baublies, who heads the union, hit out at Lufthansa, saying it had “not once tried to get in touch” since negotiations broke down last Thursday.

The airline, however, said it was “ready to resume discussions at any time”.

Lufthansa presented a new offer to the union on Monday evening, with improved bonuses and retirement provisions.

“In order that our customers are not penalised by the effects of this strike, we have decided to improve our offer, Lufthansa’s head of personnel, Bettina Volkens, quoted as saying in a company statement.

UFO responded by saying its leadership would examine the new offer but added that “it changes nothing regarding the strike for November 10”.

The dispute over pay and early retirement provisions dates back to December 2013, when the company decided to embark on cost cuts in the face of intense competition from low-cost carriers.

The union is demanding that the current system of early retirement provisions remain unchanged, but Lufthansa has argued that those measures are too expensive.

Despite the industrial dispute, Lufthansa last week said it was raising its full-year forecasts after low oil prices and positive passenger numbers lifted profits in the third quarter.

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