Marubani Lufthansa kugoma, safari 3,800 kusitishwa

Check-in counters were deserted at Munich airport

 

Germany's Lufthansa has cancelled 3,800 flights later this week in anticipation of an expected three-day strike by pilots starting on Wednesday.

Lufthansa normally operates around 1,800 flights a day. It said on Monday that the strike would cost it tens of millions of euros.

The pilots are striking over plans by Lufthansa to cut an early retirement contract.

Lufthansa said it would be forced to cancel most of its flights later this week, grounding as many as 425,000 passengers, AFP news agency reported.

"As a result of the planned strike by the pilots' union Cockpit, around 3,800 flights will be cancelled on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday," the carrier said in a statement.

"A total 425,000 passengers will be affected by the stoppages," it said.

"During the three-day walkout by Cockpit teams, there will only be around 500 short- and long-haul flights by Lufthansa and Germanwings."

Lufthansa said it would inform passengers via text message or email about the flight changes.

Most domestic and European flights on the strike days would be operated by Lufthansa Group companies Eurowings, Lufthansa CityLine and Air Dolomiti, whose pilots were not taking part in the strike, the statement said.

In addition to passenger services, the group's freight carrier, Lufthansa Cargo, will also be affected, with 23 out of 31 planned cargo flights from Frankfurt being cancelled.

 aljazeera