Lufthansa Cargo reduces freighter schedule as Covid pilot agreement expires

Lufthansa Cargo will reduce its freighter schedule by around 5% from today as an agreement with pilots over extended flying to meet Covid restrictions comes to an end.

The airline said that the changes to its summer freighter flight schedule was “unavoidable in context with the ongoing global pandemic”.

“Strict entry regulations continue to apply in a large number of countries due to the coronavirus pandemic,” a spokeswoman said.

“The continuation of the current flight schedule in its entirety is therefore not possible for operational reasons.”

According to publication Aero.de, an agreement allowing cargo pilots to fly longer hours in response to Covid today expired.

With the two parties unable to reach a new agreement for Covid flying — in the context of ongoing negotiations over pilot job reductions as part of a wider re-orgnisation — the carrier has had to reduce its schedule.

The spokeswoman added that “constructive talks currently continue”.