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German Airport Strikes Force Lufthansa to Cancel Flights

5th March 2008 Lufthansa has cancelled flights on the morning of 5 March due to threatened strike action by public service workers at many German airports. Flights to and from Frankfurt and Munich are most severely affected.

In view of the expected industrial action by airport workers, a total of 142 flight legs will be cancelled as a precautionary measure. Domestic flights will be worst affected. Lufthansa’s long-haul flights will operate as scheduled on the morning of 5 March.

Passengers who were planning to take a domestic flight in Germany on 5 March are requested to use the Deutsche Bahn rail network.

Passengers travelling on an electronic (etix) ticket are requested to go to a Lufthansa counter and have their ticket exchanged for a travel voucher.

Alternatives for tickets issued on/before the actual day of the strike. Lufthansa will allow:

1. One rebooking free of charge - the new date of travel must be before 1 April 2008 and within ticket validity. Furthermore, the change of travel origin and/or destination as well as class of service is not permitted.
Or
2. A cancellation of the reservation at no additional charge and full refund. If a tariff allows a refund at a charge, this charge may be waived.

Germany's Verdi union said on Tuesday its members would strike at German airports on Wednesday as it tries to increase pressure on the government to agree to an 8 percent wage hike for some 2 million public-sector workers.

German rail company Deutsche Bahn [DBN.UL] meanwhile faces its own headache as train drivers' union GDL said earlier on Tuesday it would hold a fresh strike from Monday after talks broke down this week in a dispute over pay.

Lufthansa Travel Information

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