Lufthansa, Air France Cut Flights; BA Strike

123jump.com Staff
23 Feb, 2010
New York City

European air travel is in disarray as airlines cut flights at Frankfurt and Paris airports. British Air is bracing for cabin crew strike that may begin as early as mid-March.

[R]9:35 AM New York, 3:35 PM Frankfurt – European air travel is in disarray as airlines cut flights at Frankfurt and Paris airports. British Air is bracing for cabin crew strike that may begin as early as mid-March.[/R]

Europe is bracing for air travel disruption this week after airports at Frankfurt and Paris operate fewer than normal flights.

Lufthansa sought court help and restarted talks with pilots after the union struck yesterday for a four-day strike. More than half the 1,800 pilots returned to work today after court permitted talks through March 8 and put the strike on hold.

The airline canceled 800 flights yesterday and its spokeswoman Stotz said that normal flight operation may resume by Feb 26.

British Airways’ 12,000 cabin crew overwhelmingly voted in favor of walkout. More than 80% of votes were in favor of the strike and union leaders were given authority to call a strike at anytime they prefer.

British Airways accelerated its talks with the union to avert the first strike since 1997.

Air traffic controllers in France struck today for four days according to a statement from Eric Heraud, spokesman for the French civil aviation or DGAC.

The pilots are resisting a European Union directive to consolidate control centers under Single European Sky. In the first stage of consolidation an agreement expected to be signed in the next few months among Germany, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands that will limit the number of control centers and traffic controllers.