Lufthansa Cancels More Than 1,000 Flights Affecting 134,000 Passengers

Lufthansa has now released more information about its flight cancellations for tomorrow (more than 1,000) and how many passengers (134,000) are affected.

More than 20,000 Lufthansa’s ground employees that belong to a ver.di trade union will have a warning strike lasting for a day that begins at 3:45 CET on Wednesday and ends at 6 AM on Thursday.

You can access Lufthansa’s here.

The airline yesterday stated that the strike would “massively” (their words – not mine) affect them, and it turns out that the strike cancels almost all flights for a day, also involving some services on Thursday and Friday.

Lufthansa has canceled 32 flights for today and 646 for tomorrow in Frankfurt, which affects 92,000 passengers.

Munich has seen 15 cancellations for today and 330 for tomorrow affecting 42,000 passengers.

Lufthansa tries to rebook all affected passengers on other services, but that is likely impossible considering how packed the flights are.

If you are scheduled to fly on one of the canceled flights, you should get an automated email with a suggested new itinerary or rebooking options. If they are not acceptable to you, you need to give Lufthansa a call (good luck reaching someone).

Remember that Lufthansa, by law, is required to rebook affected passengers to other airlines at the earliest opportunity. They are also required to provide the duty to care (hotels & meals) in case of long delays and cancellations per EC 261/2004.

Email that Lufthansa sent out:

Lufthansa’s Press Release:

Massive impact of ver.di strike: almost all Lufthansa flights to and from Frankfurt and Munich canceled for Wednesday

The warning strike announced by trade union ver.di is having a massive operational impact in the middle of the peak travel season. Lufthansa will have to call off almost the entire flight program at its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich for Wednesday. Looking ahead to the coming weekend, the start of the vacation season in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, Lufthansa is working flat out to return flight operations to normal as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, the effects of the strike may still lead to individual flight cancellations or delays on Thursday and Friday.

In Frankfurt, a total of 678 flights will have to be canceled, including 32 already today (Tuesday) and 646 on Wednesday. This is expected to affect 92,000 passengers.

At the Munich hub, a total of 345 flights will have to be canceled, 15 of them already today (Tuesday) and 330 on Wednesday. It is expected that 42,000 passengers will be affected.

Passengers affected by cancellations will be informed immediately today and rebooked on alternative flights if possible. However, the capacities available for this are very limited.

Michael Niggemann, Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, says: “The early escalation of a previously constructive collective bargaining round is causing enormous damage. It affects our passengers in particular, who are impacted during the peak travel season. And it is putting an additional heavy strain on our employees in an already difficult phase for air traffic. In view of our high offer with very substantial pay increases over the next 12 months of more than 10 percent more in the pay groups up to 3,000 euros monthly basic pay and a 6 percent increase for a monthly basic pay of 6,500 euros, this so-called warning strike is in the middle of the peak summer travel season is simply no longer proportionate.”

Among other things, the Group has presented a package with the following components. Starting 1 July 2022, with a term of 18 months, there is to be per employee:

An increase in basic pay of 150 euros per month as of 1 July 2022,

A further basic pay increase of 100 euros per month as of 1 January 2023,

Plus a two-percent increase in compensation as of 1 July 2023, provided the Group’s earnings are positive (assumed in each case for the calculations),

Additional commitment: an increase in minimum wage to 13 euros per hour effective 1 October 2022.

Example increases in basic monthly compensation (gross) within the next 12 months according to the Lufthansa offer:

Basic remuneration/month: 2,000 EUR / Increase per month: 295 EUR (+14.8%)

Basic remuneration/month: 2,500 EUR / Increase per month: 305 EUR (+12.2%)

Basic remuneration/month: 3,000 EUR / Increase per month: 315 EUR (+10.5%)

Basic remuneration/month: 4,000 EUR / Increase per month: 335 EUR (+8.4%)

Basic remuneration/month: 5,000 EUR / Increase per month: 355 EUR (+ 7.1%)

Basic remuneration/month: 6,500 EUR / Increase per month: 385 EUR (+ 5.9%)

Conclusion

It is a challenging time for the traveling public with all the flight cancellations due to an inadequate number of employees and now with some strikes thrown in as well.

The public in Europe tends to accept strikes by not high-paid employees. This is because it ensures that employees get a fair wage by putting some pressure on the management.