Lufthansa strikes continue as cabin crew walk out

Lufthansa passengers are set to face further disruption on Wednesday as cabin crew launched a new two-day strike.

Around 20,000 flight attendants at Lufthansa and its regional subsidiary CityLine have been on strike since midnight.

The UFO cabin crew union called the latest walkout, which is due to continue through Thursday, in a push for better working conditions in a broader labour dispute.

Hundreds of flights were again expected to be cancelled, particularly at Lufthansa's main hubs in Frankfurt and Munich.

Lufthansa has faced recurring industrial action since the beginning of the year. Pilots already went on strike on Monday and Tuesday of this week, as they seek to secure better pay and pensions.

On Tuesday, the pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) announced fresh strikes at Lufthansa for Thursday and Friday.

VC said that the strike will affect Lufthansa's core brand, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa CityLine. Lufthansa's budget airline Eurowings is to be affected by the strike on Thursday only.

The union also said it has proposed arbitration to resolve the collective bargaining disputes.

A Lufthansa spokesman said: "Mediation can be a good way out of this conflict if it comprehensively addresses all collective bargaining issues to achieve a lasting resolution. We are open to that."

The two-day cabin crew strikes are likely to overshadow a ceremony on Wednesday to mark the 100th anniversary of the original founding of Lufthansa.

The unions are planning a rally outside the company headquarters at Frankfurt Airport. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder are among those expected to attend the anniversary event at Lufthansa's new visitor centre.