Lufthansa Cabin Crew Strike In Frankfurt, Düsseldorf Likely To Affect Short-Haul Flights

UPDATE: 6:45 EST -- Lufthansa will cancel 290 flights Friday due to a week-long strike by its cabin crew union, the German carrier said, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"Around 10 percent of all flights will have to be cancelled. Of a total 3,000 connections scheduled for today, 290 flights will be cancelled, including 23 inter-continental services," AFP reported, citing a statement from Lufthansa.

Original story:

German carrier Lufthansa's cabin crew will begin a weeklong strike Friday, potentially affecting the airline's short-haul flights. The cabin crew union announced earlier this week that its members would stage walkouts at Frankfurt and Düsseldorf airports.

Lufthansa said Friday it would be able to offer at least eight of its long-haul flights from Frankfurt after the strike starts at 2 p.m. EST (1300 GMT), the Associated Press reported. The airline also added that it has reserved 2,500 hotel rooms in the city to accommodate passengers stranded by the strike, according to AP.

Lufthansa also said that subsidiary airlines Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Germanwings, Eurowings, Brussels Airlines, Air Dolomiti and Cityline will not be affected by the strike.

“None of the Austrian Airlines flights as well as Lufthansa Passenger Airline flights from and to Munich will be affected by the strike. Lufthansa Cargo regrets any inconvenience caused by strike actions of the union UFO,” Lufthansa said, in a statement.

UFO rejected Lufthansa’s proposal in a long-running dispute over savings efforts implemented by the airline as it copes with competition from low-cost rivals such as Ryanair Holdings Plc, Bloomberg reported. The union said Friday that the protests will continue through Nov. 13 and crew members at other airports will walk out Saturday. UFO did not specify the other locations of the strike. Lufthansa shares were up 2.3 percent Friday morning.