DUE to a one-day strike by pilots, the German airline Lufthansa will cancel almost all flights tomorrow, more than 800 of them, affecting more than 130,000 passengers, the company announced on Thursday.

The consequences of the strike could also be felt over the weekend. Lufthansa aircraft currently abroad will return to Germany on Friday, but passengers transferring in Germany will only be able to continue to their destinations over the weekend.

Second major strike in just a couple of weeks

The strike affects all flights departing from German airports, excluding Eurowings flights, Lufthansa's subsidiary. This is the second major strike in just a few weeks. At the end of July, Lufthansa was forced to cancel more than 1,000 flights due to a strike by ground staff.

The pilots' union is seeking a 16 percent pay rise for its members, which management has so far refused. “We have absolutely no understanding for the current strike. Lufthansa has offered the pilots a more than favorable package,” management said.

Lufthansa pilots are among the best-paid pilots in the world. The starting annual salary is 70,000 euros, and a captain with many years of experience can earn more than 275,000 euros a year.

Source: Index.hr