Lufthansa pilots’ strike extended to today

International press reports reveal that the pilots’ strike at Lufthansa yesterday (Tuesday) - the 13th in 18 months - has been extended to today.

This long-running dispute between the airline and the German pilots’ union, Vereinigung Cockpit, has been over pay, benefits and cost cuts, with the German airline taking a hard stance on its future plans.

Yesterday’s strike hit long-haul passenger and cargo flights out of Germany from 06:00 to 21:59 GMT, while today’s 24-hour strike targets short-haul Lufthansa and Germanwings flights.

Lufthansa said it had operated 90 out of about 170 planned long-haul flights and all seven cargo flights for Tuesday as pilots volunteered to work.

But it expects several hundred flights to be cancelled today, with 1 350 short-haul flights planned.