Lufthansa cancels 90% of flights at 5 airports due to strike

Operations were brought largely to a halt at five German airports on Wednesday as airport ground staff walked off the job as part of an ongoing wage dispute with the country's largest airline Lufthansa,

The carrier had to cancel up to 90% of its approximately 1,000 scheduled flights on Wednesday due to the industrial action. The airline said 100,000 passengers were affected.

At major hubs Frankfurt and Munich, less than half of the usual flights took place as Lufthansa is the main operator there.

Trade union Verdi had called on ground staff in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin and Düsseldorf to go on strike.

Verdi on Wednesday threatened to extend its strikes if the airline's executive board does not significantly improve its current wage offer for ground staff.

Verdi managing director Heinrich Birner, who is responsible for the Munich region, demanded a better offer from Lufthansa in the next round of negotiations. "We are definitely preparing for further strikes," he noted.

The willingness to strike on the ground has never been as high in the past 20 years as it is now, Verdi negotiator Marvin Reschinsky said at a protest meeting with several hundred participants in front of the Lufthansa administration at Frankfurt Airport.

The strike sends a clear signal to the board: "We can go longer if you challenge us to."

The 27-hour strike is expected to last until 7:10 am (0610 GMT) on Thursday.

Lufthansa cancelled around 30 departures from Munich and Frankfurt for Thursday morning before the planned end of the industrial action.

Lufthansa's head of human resources Michael Niggemann spoke of "a bitter day for our passengers." The escalation chosen by Verdi was not necessary, he told German broadcaster ZDF.

Niggemann urged protesters to recognize the previous agreement with salary increases of up to 19% as well as the offer presented.

Reschinsky, on the other hand, accused the management of treating its employees with "disrespect." He said: "The two-tier society between flying personnel and ground staff must finally be brought to an end."

Demonstrators were very dissatisfied with their working conditions. One baggage handler reported: "We have 50% fewer employees than before [the] coronavirus [pandemic], but the work has remained the same. We should actually be demanding even more."

Her colleague said: "We need the increase to live on, everything has become much more expensive."

The German Aviation Association (BDL) tried to de-escalate the situation. "I appeal to the unions to organize the next round of collective bargaining with a sense of proportion," said BDL head Jost Lammers in Berlin.

"The right to strike is a very valuable and important asset. It should be the last resort."

The industrial action is in response to ongoing Lufthansa Group wage negotiations for approximately 25,000 ground crew employees at Deutsche Lufthansa, Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo.

An offer from the employers in the second round of negotiations on January 23 was rejected.

There have been widespread disruptions due to industrial action at German airports recently. Last Thursday, Verdi called on security staff to strike at several major airports.

In the wage dispute, Verdi is demanding 12.5% more pay, but at least €500 ($538) per month for one year. In addition, there is to be a group-wide inflation bonus of €3,000.

Lufthansa has offered a 13% pay rise and an inflation bonus over three years.

The next round of negotiations is scheduled for Monday.