Lufthansa to scrap flights at major German hubs amid strike

Lufthansa will suspend almost its entire flight operations in Frankfurt and Munich on Friday because of a strike by pilots who are demanding higher pay, adding another day of major disruptions to what has already turned into a summer of travel chaos. In total, about 130,000 passengers will be affected as Lufthansa scraps 800 flights at its two biggest German hubs, according to a statement. Some disruptions will already occur on Thursday, according to the carrier. Lufthansa fell as much as 4% in Frankfurt. Pilots at Lufthansa called a one-day strike following the collapse of wage talks. Lufthansa said it has “absolutely no understanding” for the decision to strike, after making what it called “a very good and socially balanced offer.” According to the airline, giving in to pilot demands would increase payroll costs by more than 40%. It’s the second time in little over a month that Europe’s largest carrier has been forced to enact an almost complete shutdown of operations at its two most important airports because of strikes. Last time in late July, ground crew brought business to a standstill in Frankfurt and Munich as they also sought better pay conditions, resulting in the elimination of more than 1,000 flights in the two cities. A quicker-than-expected recovery in air travel has clashed with a shortage of staff at airlines and airports after deep cuts during the Covid-19 pandemic. “We want solutions at the negotiating table,” Lufthansa Personnel Chief Michael Niggemann said in a statement, adding that what the company has tabled is “a good basis for continuing talks.” Conversely, the VC Pilot Union demanded the airline present a “significantly improved offer.”<br/>