Lufthansa Cargo is hoping to operate around two thirds of its flights today and tomorrow despite being hit by a pilot strike.
The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilot union today launched two-days of strike action affecting pilots working for Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Airlines and Lufthansa CityLine taking part.
However, in a statement, Lufthansa Cargo said that it was able to utilise partner airline aircraft to keep disruption to a minimum.
“Due to short-notice adjustments and flexible solutions, e.g. operating some routes with AeroLogic aircraft and crews or rescheduling some flights, we can operate up to two-thirds of our regular freighter operations,” the airline said in a statement to Air Cargo News.
In addition to its own freighters, Lufthansa Cargo markets the freight capacity of Lufthansa Group passenger airlines.
Lufthansa Group airlines such as Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Air Dolomiti, and ITA Airways will also attempt to offer additional frequencies and deploy larger aircraft on their flights to and from Germany.
Meanwhile, the carrier’s joint venture partners Cathay Pacific and United Airlines are also operating as scheduled.
“Nevertheless, we had to cancel several flights and regret the impact on our customers, with whom we maintain trusted partnerships and who rely on our reliable transport solutions,” Lufthansa Cargo said.
“At the same time, we are doing everything possible to maintain stable services for our customers and to keep critical supply chains moving as smoothly as possible.”
The strike, which due to at midnight on 14 April, was announced by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union on April 11 over ongoing contract negotiations and pension provisions.
“Vereinigung Cockpit feels compelled to take this step after the employers’ side shows no discernible will to find a solution in several collective bargaining disputes,” said VC President Andreas Pinheiro.
“Despite a deliberate renunciation of strike action over the Easter holidays, there were no serious offers. During this time, there was neither a reaction nor a recognisable willingness to talk on the part of the employers.”
The airline has implemeted a transit embargo at its Frankfurt hub covering certain animal and emergency shipments.
Meanwhile, at the Munich hub, there is a transit embargo for all live animals as well as certain other sensitive shipments.
The carrier said that all Lufthansa Cargo flights scheduled to arrive in Frankfurt on April 13 are planned to operate as scheduled.
