Unions strike against Lufthansa subsidiary Discover

Lufthansa subsidiary Discover Airlines, with 27 aircraft and 1,900 employees, is facing a four-day strike by specialist unions Vereinigung Cockpit and Ufo. The strikes will impact 270 scheduled flights from Frankfurt and Munich, with cancellations and delays expected.

Lufthansa plans to redistribute flights to other group companies to mitigate the effects. While Verdi has already concluded collective agreements for pilots and flight attendants, Vereinigung Cockpit and Ufo aim to enforce their own collective agreements.

The strike comes amidst a conflict between the unions and Verdi over tariff agreements. Discover Airlines is trying to minimize the impact on passengers and is planning to operate as many flights as possible with management personnel.

This strike is the latest in a series of industrial actions by the unions, including previous strikes by VC pilots and Ufo members. The unions argue that the Verdi union lacks sufficient membership and are demanding their own collective agreements.

Discover Airlines, a Lufthansa subsidiary founded in 2021, condemns the strike, stating that a recent agreement with Verdi guarantees salary increases. The airline plans to expand its fleet to 33 aircraft by 2027.