Lufthansa pilots to stage fresh strike

Pilots at Lufthansa’s low-cost subsidiary, Germanwings, are set to go on strike due to a long-running dispute with the German flag carrier’s management over retirement benefits.

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), the union representing about 5,400 Lufthansa pilots, said in a statement on Wednesday that the 12-hour industrial action is scheduled to take place on Thursday between 1000 GMT and 2159 GMT, affecting all domestic Germanwings flights.

“Unfortunately, Lufthansa has not taken on VC’s proposals for compromise and is continuing to stonewall,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Germanwings said it would release details on flight cancellations later on Wednesday.

The development comes as an earlier six-hour strike at Germanwings two months ago reportedly cost Lufthansa over 10 million euros.

Lufthansa pilots have already staged six walkouts this year, which canceled hundreds of flights and stranded thousands of passengers.

The pilots want Europe’s largest airline to keep their current retirement scheme, under which Lufthansa pays a transition payment to pilots who want to retire early at the age of 55.

However, the airline, which faces tough competition from European budget airlines and major Persian Gulf airlines, wants to cut the payments.

It says the current retirement scheme is no longer needed, given an increase in life expectancy and a recent court ruling that allows pilots to work until the age of 65.

SSM/AB/SS