Lufthansa pilots vote for potential strike action
Lufthansa pilots voted in favor of potential strike action over pay, threatening further disruption during the peak of the summer travel season.
The Vereinigung Cockpit union is calling for a 5.5% pay increase this year and an automatic adjustment for inflation starting next year. It says that, despite six rounds of talks, the German flagship carrier is yet to make a serious offer.
Offering a potential lifeline to the German airline, the union said that the walkouts could be avoided if management takes steps to resolve the dispute, but the union called the vote "an unmistakable signal to Lufthansa to take the cockpit staff's needs seriously."
If a strike were to happen, it would pile further pressure on an industry already damaged by disruptions, caused by a range of factors including staff shortages and widespread worker unrest over post-pandemic pay and conditions.
"We respect the outcome of the recent VC ballot," a Lufthansa spokesperson told TPG Wednesday. "Lufthansa is continuing to engage in constructive talks with the pilots union VC in order to find a joint solution for our pilots. The next meeting dates have already been arranged with the VC."
A Lufthansa pilot strike could potentially affect tens of thousands of passengers all over the world. The airline serves more than 250 airports in 77 countries worldwide, including airports in London, Madrid, Cape Town and Geneva.
In America alone, the airline serves 20 airports including those in Anchorage, Alaska; Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Los Angeles; Miami; New York; Orlando; San Francisco; Seattle; and Washington, D.C., from Frankfurt. From Munich it operates nonstop flights to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and New York.
Related: Lufthansa cancels almost all flights in Germany over strikes
Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and the president of Atmosphere Research Group, told NBC News that a strike before mid-September could have a significant impact on international leisure travel; a strike later that month would cause more issues for business travelers.
"U.S. travelers shouldn't push the panic button just yet, but they better know where it's located," he said.
He told the news channel that Lufthansa would likely prioritize flights to America and Western Europe as it tries to mitigate potential disruption to its primary routes. "But, no matter how hard it tries, I doubt it will be able to operate every flight on every route between Germany and the U.S.," Harteveldt added.
It would be a similar story in Europe, where Lufthansa does the lion's share of its business. In the U.K., for example, it connects Frankfurt and Munich to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) and London City Airport (LCY), as well as airports in Bristol, Birmingham, Newquay, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool and Glasgow.
In fact, according to aviation data analytics firm Cirium, Lufthansa was Heathrow's fifth-biggest user in May; there were, on average, 18 flights scheduled to depart the airport each day to its Frankfurt and Munich bases.
The news comes a week after Lufthansa was rocked by strike action from its ground staff, which forced the carrier to cancel more than 1,000 flights.
Related: British Airways workers call off Heathrow strike after 8% pay increase agreed
In a further blow to the airline, pilots at Lufthansa's subsidiary Swiss Air rejected a new contract proposal from management Sunday.
"If management continues not to recognize the signs of the times and does not immediately offer adequate solutions, then the pilots must show the management even more clearly how dissatisfied they are," their Aeropers labor union said.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.