BERLIN
Lufthansa pilots have gone on strike in an ongoing dispute over pension benefits.
Members of the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilots' union stopped operating short- and medium-haul flights on Monday at 13.00 local time (11:00 GMT).
The union said in a written statement: "All Lufthansa flights across Germany operated by the aircraft types A320, Boeing 737 and Embraer will be affected by the strike."
More than 1,000 flights are expected to be cancelled and about 200,000 travellers affected by the strike, which is due to last until 23.59 (21:59 GMT) on Tuesday.
Pilots will also ground long haul flights on Tuesday from 06.00 (04:00 GMT) to 23.59 (21:59 GMT), the union said.
VC, which represents 5,400 pilots at Lufthansa, has criticized the management for not making any substantive offer to pilots despite seven warning strikes held since April and said it has been left with no other option but to stage the walkout.
- Strike 'disproportionate'
Lufthansa has criticized the strike as being “totally incomprehensible and disproportionate” and announced it is making alternative plans and compiling special timetables for passengers.
The company advised passengers to check their flight status on the company website.
The union has been in conflict with Lufthansa for months due to a major disagreement over plans to change the existing pension scheme, which allows pilots to retire at the age of 59 - six years earlier than the official retirement age.
According to the union, Lufthansa wishes to change the agreement to two years before the official retirement age.
The union staged seven strikes this year at Frankfurt and Munich airports, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
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