German airline Lufthansa has cancelled nearly 1,300 flights for Thursday and Friday, as its cabin crew announced a 48-hour strike this week.
The company said on Twitter that Lufthansa Group had to cancel nearly 700 flights scheduled for Thursday, and around 600 flights scheduled for Friday due to the strike action.
The UFO labor union, which says it represents more than 20,000 cabin staff, called for a 48-hour strike on Thursday and Friday.
UFO planned the warning strike to press Lufthansa for additional allowances at wage negotiations and conditions, citing what it claimed was management’s “ongoing refusal” to negotiate.
Company urged passengers to check the company webpage for the status of their flights.
Passengers who already booked on a Lufthansa flight to and from Frankfurt or Munich, with a departure on Nov. 7 or 8, were offered free rebooking.
The German court ruled that the strike was legal. Hoping to still avert the upheaval, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has invited UFO and two rival unions for last-ditch talks on Wednesday evening.
The UFO union has said the strike was necessary because negotiations with Lufthansa bosses were deadlocked.
