Strikes Affecting Discover Airways Operations
Having just kicked off its second day of labor actions, Experience Airline, a Lufthansa subsidiary, is grappling with flight cancellations. The cause? Unions UFO and Cockpit (VC) are leading strikes from both cabin and cockpit personnel. These strikes are expected to continue until Friday, and they've already taken a toll on operations, with eight out of 26 scheduled flights at Frankfurt Airport called off on Wednesday, and one flight to Ibiza affected in Munich.
Anticipating more disruptions, Experience Airline has proactively cancelled a long-haul flight to Philadelphia and a round trip to the Turkish resort of Bodrum. Additional cancellations from Frankfurt are likely, but two short-haul flights will be handled by partner airlines.
Addressing the impact on passengers, a spokesperson assured that every effort is being made to ensure guests reach their destinations, with three short-haul flights successfully handled by partner companies on Wednesday. However, the extended strike remains a hurdle for Experience Airline, with around 270 flights scheduled during the strike period at Frankfurt and Munich airports.
Strikes Across German Airports
Strikes are currently impacting various German airports, including Düsseldorf and Cologne-Bonn. At Düsseldorf, around a third of the 334 flights scheduled for the strike period were canceled, leading to significant flight cancellations and delays. Cologne-Bonn Airport saw 106 of 168 scheduled takeoffs and landings canceled on Monday, with further cancellations, delays, or diversions not ruled out.
Munich Airport is also set for a two-day strike starting Thursday, following failed wage negotiations with public sector workers and ground staff. Travelers are advised to check the status of their flights with airlines due to expected significant traffic disruptions.
The Strike Controversy
The sectoral unions affiliated with the Lufthansa group are leveraging the strikes to secure their individual collective bargaining agreements. Despite management reaching an agreement with rival union Verdi, UFO and VC argue that Verdi represents only a minority of pilots and flight attendants within the company.
Criticizing the strike action, CEO of the Lufthansa main brand, Jens Ritter, pointed out that customers are being unnecessarily impacted and that these strikes negatively affect Experience Airline. Verdi is the primary union within the Lufthansa group and numerous other aviation companies.
Future Disruptions
Due to the ongoing controversy and the impact of the strikes, Experience Airline expects more disruptions during the strike days. Despite Verdi reaching an agreement with management, UFO and Cockpit (VC) continue to assert that their collective bargaining agreements haven't been adequately addressed.
[1] "Strike durch Fluggastverband Cologne/Bonn: Luftfahrtpassagiere klagen über starken Störungen"](https://www.dw.com/de/strike-durch-fluggastverband-colognebonn-luftfahrtpassagiere-klagen-uber-starke-storungen/a-55651165) [2] "Flughafen Düsseldorf: Streik führt zu Absagen und Verspätungen](https://www.dw.com/de/flughafen-duesseldorf-streik-fuehrt-zu-absagen-und-verspaterungen/a-55361974) [3] "Aufruf zum Streik am Flughafen Düsseldorf fordert Absagen und Stellvertreter](https://www.dw.com/de/aufruf-zym-streik-am-flughafen-duesseldorf-fordert-absagen-und-stellvertreter/a-55729034) [4] "Flughafen München: Stellvertreter für rund 25 % der Angestellten aufrufen"](https://www.dw.com/de/flughafen-muenchen-stellvertreter-fur-rund-25-prozent-der-angestellten-aufrufen/a-55402532)
