Title:
Flight Chaos Continues as Airlines Face Cancellations Due to Strikes
Content:
Introduction:
An airline has been forced to cancel even more flights just days after 1,000 were cancelled. Strike action across Germany has resulted in huge flight cancellations, just one of many walkouts in recent months.
Further Flight Cancellations Today:
Flag carrier Lufthansa previously cancelled flights for around 120,000 passengers earlier this week, affecting flights on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, further action has also affected flights today, this time by security personnel.
Security Personnel Strike:
The airline said in a statement on the website: “The labor union Verdi has announced a strike by security personnel at the airports in Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne/Bonn, Stuttgart, and Karlsruhe/Baden Baden for Thursday, March 14th.” Passengers have been told to avoid the airports if they are due to travel from one affected.
Passenger Instructions:
The website continues: “Security checks for transit areas will be closed. Access to the departure gates will therefore not be possible.” “We kindly ask all guests who wish to begin their journey at one of the mentioned airports on March 14th not to come to the respective airport.”
Rebooking and Impact:
The airline confirmed that affected passengers will be contacted and rebooked onto another flight. Brits could also be caught up in the cancellations, with the airline operating from UK airports such as London Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. The majority of the routes fly to and from Munich and Frankfurt.
Reason Behind Strikes:
The strike earlier this week was conducted by cabin crew over a pay dispute. UFO union leader Joachim Vazquez Buerger said the strikes came after the airline reported record profits. He mentioned that the cabin crew have to benefit from the success achieved, especially during the Coronavirus crisis. The airline’s 2023 profits were €1.67 billion (£1.42 billion) compared to 2022’s €791 million.
Previous Strike Actions:
Lufthansa has been plagued by strike action in recent months, resulting in huge cancellations. On February 7-8, 25,000 ground staff members walked out, with Lufthansa forced to cancel flights.
Impact on Passengers:
And on February 20, the airline was forced to cancel 90 per cent of planned flights, affecting 200,000 passengers. But it’s not just Lufthansa who has been affected by flight cancellations this year. Back in January, Finnair was forced to cancel a number of flights due to strikes across the country. Spanish airline Iberia also cancelled 460 flights that same month, affecting 45,000 passengers.
Flight Compensation Rules:
Flight compensation rules state that under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if a flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late. Passengers are entitled to refunds or alternative flights in such cases. Airlines are not required to give refunds if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather. Travel insurance may refund passengers for cancellations, depending on the policy.
In conclusion, the ongoing strike actions in the airline industry have led to massive flight cancellations, impacting numerous passengers and highlighting the importance of understanding flight compensation rules and passenger rights.