Lufthansa downplays strike
Posted by African Press International on July 29, 2008
A strike by Lufthansa ground and cabin staff over pay has barely disrupted flights to and from German airports, the airline claimed on Monday. Lufthansa shares many routes with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), but early morning flights from Oslo and Bergen weren’t affected.
Lufthansa said their flights were leaving on time, at least so far. PHOTO: DANIEL ROLAND / AP |
Airports and passengers were bracing for delays and cancellations later in the day, however, as effects of the strike were expected to spread.
Tens of thousands of air passengers had faced travel chaos because of the strike by the Verdi union, which started at midnight Sunday. It had threatened to hit support areas from catering and cargo to maintenance and repairs.
Lufthansa officials, however, said that “almost 100 percent” of the airline’s flights were flying on time despite planned walkouts at several of Germany’s largest airports, including international hubs Frankfurt and Hamburg.
Union spokesmen said the effects of the strike were “likely to grow in the course of the day and in coming days.” Verdi, which represents 52,000 air industry workers, wants a 9.8 percent pay rise for one year. Lufthansa, Europe’s second-largest airline by passenger numbers, is offering 6.7 percent over 21 months and a one-time payment.
Lufthansa is one of SAS’ many partners in the Star Alliance frequent flyer program, and many SAS passengers are often booked on Lufthansa flights when making international connections. It remained unclear whether those flights would be disrupted.
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API/Aftenposteneng
