BERLIN, March 11 (Reuters) - Lufthansa on Wednesday criticised a planned two-day walkout of its pilots this week, just as the global sector is grappling with one of its deepest crises since the
Lufthansa to operate majority of planned flights during pilot strike
Impact and Response to the Planned Pilots' Strike
Overview of the Strike
BERLIN, March 11 (Reuters) - Germany's Lufthansa will operate more than half of its scheduled flights during a planned pilots' strike this week, which comes as the sector faces one of its deepest crises since the pandemic.
Details of the Walkouts
The VC union has called walkouts on Lufthansa passenger and cargo flights from German airports on Thursday and Friday, raising pressure in a pensions dispute with Lufthansa. It will exempt flights to selected countries in the Middle East due to the situation there.
Geopolitical Factors Affecting Flight Operations
The Iran war has caused chaos in the aviation sector, with many airlines forced to cancel connections or use alternative routes. Lufthansa is not currently operating flights to airports like Tel Aviv, Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
Lufthansa's Operational Plans
The flag carrier said more than 50% of flights would be available, including 60% of long-haul routes and 80% of cargo flights.
Commitment to Passengers
"For Lufthansa, it is a top priority to get as many passengers as possible to their destinations despite the strike call," said Francesco Sciortino, the airline's Frankfurt hub manager, said in a statement.
Subsidiary Airlines' Schedules
Lufthansa City Airlines
Lufthansa City Airlines unit will operate all scheduled flights for Thursday and Friday, while Lufthansa CityLine, hit by the strike on Thursday, should be able to operate almost its entire flight programme again on Friday, said the company.
Lufthansa CityLine
Lufthansa has described the action as incomprehensible, especially given the new level of geopolitical uncertainty.
Union's Perspective and Expected Disruptions
The union, which argues the company is refusing to discuss substantial improvements to its pension scheme, has said it expects some 300 cancellations per day.
(Reporting by Matthias Williams and Madeline Chambers, editing by Mark Potter and Thomas Seythal)
