Lufthansa cargo operations set to be hit by latest strike action
19 / 02 / 2024
Source: Lufthansa Cargo/Oliver Roesler
Lufthansa’s cargo operations are set to face disruption this week as ground staff launch another round of strike action.
As many as 25,000 members of the Ver.di union working for Deutsche Lufthansa, Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo in Germany are joining the industrial action.
The action starts at 8pm February 19 and runs until 7:10am on Wednesday, with staff from different areas of the business on strike at different times.
Lufthansa said that due to the strike it estimates that only around 10% to 20% of its flight programme will be operated, particularly on February 20.
“Due to the strike, the majority of Lufthansa’s passenger flights and a significant number of freighter flights will be affected on Tuesday,” a spokesperson for Lufthansa Cargo told Air Cargo News.
The spokesperson said that as a result of the strike no road feeder services will be able to operate inbound and outbound at its main hubs in Frankfurt and Munich during the entire strike period.
“Inbound to Frankfurt, this will apply to arrivals of our road feeder services up to and including Wednesday, February 21, 2pm,” the carrier said.
It will also introduce an embargo on dangerous goods (DGR) for local deliveries in Frankfurt from 12pm today up to and including 7:10 on Wednesday 21.
At the Munich hub, an embargo on animals (AVI) and ornamental fish (AVP) applies, while the embargo in Frankfurt is limited exclusively to ornamental fish (AVP).
“The Export Receiving Centre in Frankfurt will remain unstaffed for the duration of the strike,” the carrier said.
It is the second strike action launched by the union against Lufthansa this month.
The union said that following the strike action on February 7, the latest offer from the airline group was rejected by 96% of employees.
The next round of negotiations is due to take place on February 21.
The union is asking for a 12.5% salary increase, but at least €500 per month for a term of twelve months, and an additional inflation compensation bonus of €3,000.
