Lufthansa pilots call four-day strike

Lufthansa faces a damaging four-day strike by its pilots next week in an escalating confrontation that could hit its plans to counter the worst downturn in aviation history.

The industrial action announced by Vereinigung Cockpit, the pilots' trade union, would be among the most severe in recent German history if it goes ahead.

Lufthansa, Europe's largest airline by revenues, condemned the move as "disproportionate". Cockpit said more than 4,000 pilots were being asked to stop work from midnight on Sunday, threatening disruptions for tens of thousands of Lufthansa passengers and costs running into of millions of euros for the company .

The Lufthansa pilots' action adds to a wave of industrial unrest in the European airline sector as managers attempt to cut costs.

Among other high-profile confrontations, British Airways faces the threat of action by its cabin crews, after only narrowly avoiding a strike before Christmas.

Highlighting the harsh operating environment, Germany's statistical office reported that the number of passengers starting or finishing air journeys in the country dropped last year by 7.5m or 4.5 per cent – the largest fall in commercial aviation history.

faces a damaging four-day strike by its pilots next week in an escalating confrontation that could hit its plans to counter the worst downturn in aviation history.

The industrial action announced by Vereinigung Cockpit, the pilots' trade union, would be among the most severe in recent German history if it goes ahead.

Lufthansa, Europe's largest airline by revenues, condemned the move as "disproportionate". Cockpit said more than 4,000 pilots were being asked to stop work from midnight on Sunday, threatening disruptions for tens of thousands of Lufthansa passengers and costs running into of millions of euros for the company .

The Lufthansa pilots' action adds to a wave of industrial unrest in the European airline sector as managers attempt to cut costs.

Among other high-profile confrontations, British Airways faces the threat of action by its cabin crews, after only narrowly avoiding a strike before Christmas.

Highlighting the harsh operating environment, Germany's statistical office reported that the number of passengers starting or finishing air journeys in the country dropped last year by 7.5m or 4.5 per cent – the largest fall in commercial aviation history.
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