Airlines

Lufthansa Cancels 1,000 Flights From Frankfurt & Munich Due to Strike

The warning strike issued by the trade union ver.di is severely affecting operations. Nearly every flight scheduled for Wednesday at Lufthansa’s hubs in Frankfurt and Munich will need to be cancelled

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In the midst of the busiest travel season, the warning strike issued by the trade union ver.di is severely affecting operations. Nearly every flight scheduled for Wednesday at Lufthansa’s hubs in Frankfurt and Munich will need to be cancelled.

In preparation for the upcoming weekend, which marks the beginning of the summer vacation period in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, Lufthansa is making every effort to get flight operations back to normal as soon as possible.

However, the strike’s impacts may still cause some individual flights to be cancelled or delayed on Thursday and Friday.

A total of 678 flights out of Frankfurt will need to be cancelled, including 32 today (Tuesday) and 646 on Wednesday. There will likely be a 92,000 passenger impact.

A total of 345 flights at the Munich hub will need to be cancelled, 15 of them starting today (Tuesday) and 330 on Wednesday. 42,000 travellers are anticipated to be impacted.

Today, passengers impacted by cancellations will be notified right away and, if feasible, rebooked on alternate flights. However, there are very few capacity that can be used for this.

According to Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director, Michael Niggemann, “The early escalation of a previously productive collective bargaining round is doing significant damage.

Particularly during the busiest travel season, it has an impact on our passengers. Additionally, it is placing a significant additional burden on our staff during a time when air traffic is already challenging.

This so-called warning strike, which is taking place in the middle of the busiest travel season of the year, is simply not acceptable given our high offer, which includes very significant pay increases over the course of the next 12 months of more than 10% more in pay groups with monthly basic salaries up to 3,000 euros and a 6% increase for a monthly basic salary of 6,500 euros.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.