MORE STRIKES FOR LUFTHANSA

Posted on 11/24/2015

Germany's largest airline, Lufthansa, is facing yet another strike this week in an ongoing labour dispute with flight attendants. The cabin crew union UFO said Monday that it would walk out Thursday, Friday and also Monday as it presses its demands, the dpa news agency reported.

The contract dispute comes as Lufthansa is trying to cut costs amid rising competition from Gulf state airlines. Among other demands, the union wants to secure transition payments for its 19,000 members if they retire early. Earlier in November, the union went on strike for a week, causing the cancellation of 4,700 flights affecting some 550,000 passengers.

Lufthansa and pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit have also been negotiating over pension issues and the airline’s low-cost strategy. A walkout in September marked the 13th strike in 18 months. Strikes have cost Lufthansa €130 million ($185 million) this year.