Lufthansa said it expects to operate more than half of its planned flights during a two-day pilots’ strike scheduled for Thursday and Friday, after publishing a special timetable aimed at limiting disruption.
According to the airline, more than 50% of its total flight program will be maintained on March 12 and 13. Long-haul operations are expected to be less affected, with around 60% of intercontinental flights operating as planned.
Lufthansa said it has received support from pilots who volunteered to work during the strike and will also rely on other airlines within the Lufthansa Group and partner carriers to operate some flights.
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“Lufthansa’s top priority is to get as many passengers as possible to their destinations despite the Vereinigung Cockpit strike call,” said Francesco Sciortino, Hub Manager Frankfurt and Accountable Manager at Lufthansa Airlines. “I would therefore like to express my sincere thanks to the many pilots who have volunteered to work for us and will be on duty on Thursday and Friday.”
The airline also plans to deploy larger aircraft on certain routes to accommodate more passengers during the disruption.
Cargo operations are expected to be less affected. Lufthansa Cargo said it will still operate more than 80% of its scheduled flights during the strike period.
The pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit announced that flights to the Middle East will be exempt from the strike action due to the current geopolitical situation in the region. This includes a flight from Frankfurt to Riyadh scheduled for Thursday.
Lufthansa City Airlines, a separate subsidiary whose pilots are not part of the union action, will operate its full schedule during the two days. Lufthansa CityLine, which is affected by the strike on Thursday, is expected to restore nearly its full schedule on Friday.
The airline said passengers whose flights are affected will be contacted directly by email. Travelers were also advised to check the status of their flights through Lufthansa’s website or mobile application.
