The German airline Lufthansa, Europe’s second largest, has cancelled ten flights to and from India to Germany on September 7, ahead of a planned 24-hour strike by cabin crew at six major airports. It has cancelled flights on five routes operating from India to Germany. On ballpark estimates, around 2,000 passengers are expected to be impacted.
The flights cancelled are from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai scheduled to leave on September 7 to Frankfurt. In addition, the airline has also cancelled the Mumbai-Munich flight on September 7. Also, flights from Frankfurt to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and from Munich to Mumbai scheduled to depart on September 7 have been cancelled, according to Lufthansa’s website.
A Lufthansa spokesperson said:" Lufthansa has given the impacted passengers an option to rebook once free of cost with any of the Lufthansa Group airlines for the same route. We contacted all the passengers either through email or SMSes and informed all of them about delays, cancellations and rebooking options."
However, Jay Bhatia, Chairman Travel Agents Association of India(TAAI) western region said:" Basically, for outbound traffic from India for around next five days, we are witnessing more of cancellations and re-booking to other carriers because of the uncertainty of strikes happening frequently in recent times."
The inbound traffic to India is preferring more of rebooking to Lufthansa or Lufthansa-endorsed airlines. Even if Lufthansa is returning money for one-way journey, the money is not paid back on pro rata basis. On round trip fares, the airline deducts full one-way fare and the customer is left with a small sum, he added.
According to a statement issued by Lufthansa airlines, “This is because of the nationwide strike called by members of German flight Attendant Union (UFO)."
Late yesterday, the cabin staff’s labour union, independent Flight Attendants’ Organization or UFO said its members will stage a 24-hour stoppage tomorrow at the airports of Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Dusseldorf and Stuttgartin escalating action over pay and conditions.
Lufthansa operates 46 weekly flights from 5 destinations of India- Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Pune to Frankfurt and Munich in Germany.
