Lufthansa strike: Flights will be severely disrupted across Germany this week

05.03.2024 - 23:33 / euronews.com / Deutsche Bahn / Ruth Wright

Flights and trains across Germany will be severely disrupted this week due to strikes.

Germany's flagship airline Lufthansa say they are "expecting extensive effects on the flight program." 

200,000 passengers are likely to be affected, meaning that around 1,000 flights per day will be cancelled as during previous strikes, according to German news agency dpa.

Flights on Thursday (7 March) and Friday (8 March) will be the worst affected.

The official strike times of Lufthansa ground staff are: 8 pm on Wednesday until 7.10 am on Saturday.

It is the third time this year that a strike has caused mass flight cancellations for Lufthansa.

The strike on long distance and regional train services begins at 2 am on Thursday and, according to GDL union, will last until 1 pm on Friday. However these times could change.

Disputes between transport workers and companies have been ongoing for months in Germant.

Along with asking for pay rises, GDL union has been calling for working hours to be reduced from 38 to 35 per week without a pay cut, which train operator Deutsche Bahn has refused.

The Ver.di union seeks a 12.5% pay raise, or at least €500 more per month, in negotiations for nearly 25,000 Lufthansa ground workers including check-in, aircraft handling, maintenance and freight staff.

Coinciding contract negotiations have resulted in several recent walkouts in the rail, air and local transport sectors in Germany.

Chief Ver.di negotiator Marvin Reschinsky said the strikes come at a time when ground workers are barely earning the minimum wage, yet Germany’s Lufthansa is boasting a high profit margin.

"Nobody can understand that this company will be announcing record annual results this week, that bonuses for board members will be increased substantially, and that ground employees with hourly wages of €13 in some cases no longer even know how to make ends meet in Germany's most expensive cities," said Reschinsky in a statement.

With the warning strike, the trade union wants to increase the pressure on Lufthansa ahead of the planned fifth round of collective bargaining on 13 and 14 March.

The walkout by GDL workers will affect Deutsche Bahn (DB) trains.

During previous strikes, DB have operated emergency timetables. However these strikes are not going to be operated with 48 hours notice so it could be impossible for DB to plan ahead.

In a statement, DB say: "During the strike, DB will be offering a basic service on long-distance, regional and S-Bahn services. We recommend reserving a seat on long-distance services. The basic offer is available via the timetable information on bahn.de and in the DB Navigator. DB asks travellers to check whether their connection is available 24 hours before departure."

Full information from DB,