Date: 23 March 2013

Lufthansa Airlines, the German National Airline, has been forced to cancel over 500 domestic flights in the wake of a strike by airline personnel regarding wage demands and conditions of service.

 

A number of airlines in Europe have experienced strikes in recent months, the most widespread being the strike by Iberia Airlines employees in Spain, which saw thousands of passengers stranded, and disrupted operations for a number of weeks.

 

None of Lufthansa Airlines international flights have been affected yet, but there are concerns that the strike may escalate to a point where it disrupts the airline's long-haul flights.

 

Airline staff staged walk-outs at the airports in Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Munich.  Frankfurt airport is an important transit point for travellers passing through Europe to destinations such as North America and Asia, and disruptions at the airport have raised concerns regarding continued operations.