Frankfurt, Sept. 2 (BNA) Hundreds of Lufthansa flights were canceled on Friday as pilots staged a one-day strike to pressure their demands for better wages and conditions at Germany’s largest airline.
The company said that about 800 flights were stopped at its two main hubs, Frankfurt and Munich, due to the strike. It added that more than 100,000 passengers will be affected.
Lufthansa said it has offered a one-time increase of 900 euros ($900), which is a 5% increase for senior pilots and an 18% increase for those starting out in the career, according to the Associated Press.
The Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union has called for a 5.5% increase this year and an automatic increase above inflation in 2023.
In addition, pilots are looking for a new pay and vacation structure that the company said would increase staffing costs by about 40%, or about 900 million euros, over two years.
Strikes are a common tactic in labor disputes in Germany, where traditionally strong unions ensure good conditions for workers. Germany experienced the highest inflation in decades this year amid a sharp rise in energy prices.
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