Lufthansa cancels 1350 services due to pilots' strike

Lufthansa stated (01-Dec-2014) it plans to operate around 1450 of the 2800 services scheduled for 01-Dec-2014 and 02-Dec-2014, as a result of strike action by pilots represented by Vereinigung Cockpit. All long-haul services from Germany were expected to operate as scheduled on 01-Dec-2014, with Lufthansa Cargo operating a full schedule. 15,000 passengers were expected to be affected by the strike, with Lufthansa informing 56,000 passengers via SMS and 30,000 passengers via email of the changes to their services. Lufthansa stated: "Germanwings, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Air Dolomiti are not affected by the industrial action. Flight operations should largely return to normal when the strike comes to an end this Wednesday." Lufthansa German Airlines chairman Karl Ulrich Garnadt said: "We are extremely sorry that we have to disappoint more than 150,000 of our customers today and tomorrow. At the same time, we are happy that we managed to operate half of our scheduled flights on the two strike days despite the call for strikes made by the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots' union." The carrier added it is "convinced that sustainable solutions will only be found at the negotiation table", stating: "The two sides have got a lot closer over recent weeks. Lufthansa remains open to negotiation and calls on the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots' union to return to the negotiation table." [more - original PR - English/German] [more - original PR Latvian]