Lufthansa Pilots Threaten 4 Day Strike

The union that represents pilots of German airline Lufthansa has threatened to launch a four-day strike from midnight local time on 22 February 2010 (2300 GMT on 21 February). The strike would include 4,000 pilots of Lufthansa, its low-cost carrier Germanwings and Lufthansa Cargo, affecting tens of thousands of passengers. A Lufthansa official expressed pessimism about the possibility of averting the strike. He also warned that disruptions will extend several days beyond the end of the strike on 26 February. Officials of Vereinigung Cockpit, the pilots' union, claim that they are willing to work with management to find ways to cut costs but accused the company of not presenting any serious offers. Lufthansa maintains that the unions' demands are excessive.