Lufthansa Monday said it would cancel more than 1,700 flights for the following two days after its principal pilots union extended strike plans into a second week. Lufthansa last week had to cancel thousands of flights after pilots grounded much of the German flag carrier’s operations over four days of strikes in a protracted dispute over employment terms. Each strike day cost the airline about US$10.6m. Lufthansa’s main pilots union, Vereinigung Cockpit, late Sunday said it had called on pilots for short-haul flights not to report to work on Tuesday. The union has also appealed to pilots flying mid-haul and the more lucrative long-haul services to join the walkout on Wednesday. Lufthansa said about 816 of 3,000 flights would be canceled Tuesday, affecting around 82,000 passengers. The next day 890 flights will be grounded, with 98,000 passengers affected. The airline, which said it was ready to resume talks with pilots, failed in its bid to get a German court to block the strike. The court said Lufthansa was appealing the decision. Similar motions last week failed. Analysts at Goodbody Stockbrokers said the impact on Lufthansa goes beyond the immediate costs of the strike. Bookings into the busy December holiday period could weaken amid uncertainty over future strikes. Jörg Handwerg, a labor representative, said the strike was being renewed—after no walkout Sunday or Monday—because talks with the carrier failed to bridge differences over pay increases and other issues. Lufthansa said it was disappointed the union wasn’t willing to continue with talks and was instead escalating the conflict. Lufthansa said the six days of strikes—including the next two days—will have caused 4,461 flights to be canceled, and disrupted the travel plans of more than 525,000 passengers.<br/>
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A United flight bound for Japan experienced an engine malfunction after takeoff on Monday and returned to San Francisco International Airport, where it landed safely, airline and federal aviation officials said. No injuries were reported from the incident involving United Flight 837, which ended when the four-engine Boeing Co 747 aircraft touched down without further incident shortly before 1:45 p.m. A United spokeswoman, Erin Benson, said the plane was carrying 202 passengers and 15 crew members en route to Narita International Airport on Tokyo. The FAA initially reported that 231 people were aboard the jet. The landing was described as "normal" in radio communications between the flight crew and air traffic controllers, as monitored on specialist website liveatc.net. Shortly after the landing, the pilot contacted ground controllers to explain the trouble. "We need the fire department to take a look at our No. 2 engine because it had an indication of compressor stall and possibly some paint that came out during the compressor stall," the pilot was heard saying. Benson also cited a stalled compressor in one of the engines as the reason for the plane's return to San Francisco, adding that the airline could not confirm media reports of smoke or fire from the incident. The aircraft was powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines. The engine maker is working with the operator to assess the situation, a Pratt & Whitney spokeswoman said.<br/>
Police are investigating after a woman exited a plane while it was taxiing at Bush Intercontinental Airport. According to United, Flight 1892 from New Orleans had just landed at IAH around 1:15 p.m. When the plane landed, a female passenger got out of the plane. According to HPD, the woman opened a hatch on the plane to exit. Police say she jumped out into an airport operating area. According to a passenger who was on the flight, the woman opened the over-wing exit door. The man said that the woman didn't say anything before opening the door. She jumped about 15 feet from the wing of the plane to the ground. No one was injured. The woman was detained for questioning.<br/>