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Lufthansa strike: Cabin crew walkout set to demolish flight schedules
German airline’s operations on Thursday and Friday likely to be grounded
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Your support makes all the difference.A Lufthansa cabin crew strike is set to disrupt hundreds of flights.
The UFO union has called a 48-hour strike for Thursday 7 and Friday 8 November, in a dispute over pay and conditions.
The walkout could wreck the travel plans of those heading to Germany for the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Saturday.
Last week cabin crew voted in favour of indefinite industrial action.
In a statement on its website, the airline said: “Lufthansa flights (domestic and international) could be affected.
“Lufthansa strongly condemns the UFO’s massive strike appeal and is considering legal action to prevent the strike.
“We would like to apologise to all affected passengers for the inconvenience.
“We are currently working at full speed on a special flight schedule for Thursday and Friday.”
Lufthansa has a complex hub-and-spoke operation centred on Frankfurt, its main base, and Munich.
The stoppage could also affect Lufthansa’s subsidiaries Eurowings and SunExpress.
A previous strike in October was called off shortly before it was due to start.
The UFO union is itself in some disarray, following accusations that board members had been involved in embezzlement.
Lufthansa says the union in its present form is not entitled to represent cabin crew.
Under European air passengers’ rights rules, passengers will be entitled to alternative flights as close to their original timings as possible – on any airline that has seats available.
Travellers will also be entitled to meals and, if necessary, accommodation, until they can reach their destination.
Some claims-handling companies say they will also be entitled to cash compensation, though there has been no definitive ruling in the European Court of Justice over official strikes.
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