German flagship carrier Lufthansa has canceled hundreds of flights on Thursday following a one-day strike by pilots and cabin crew members.
According to Operative Information Center-OMM, citing Bloomberg, the industrial action was triggered by prolonged negotiations regarding labor contracts. The strike has led to the cancellation of both commercial and cargo flights, occurring just one day before world leaders are scheduled to arrive for the Munich Security Conference.
While the airline expects mass cancellations, it has not provided specific final figures due to the rapidly evolving situation. However, the German Airports Association estimates that more than 460 flights will be canceled, affecting approximately 69,000 passengers.
Lufthansa stated that it is working to mitigate the impact by rebooking passengers on flights operated by other group members, including Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, and Swiss. Additionally, passengers have the option to exchange their flight tickets for Deutsche Bahn train vouchers.
The Munich Security Conference, which this strike precedes, is one of the world's most significant independent forums for debating international security policy. Established in 1963, the annual event brings together heads of state, ministers, and leading experts to discuss current and future security challenges. Such large-scale strikes in Germany's aviation sector often cause significant logistical hurdles during major international summits, highlighting ongoing labor tensions within the European transport industry.
