Only a month after Lufthansa pilots went on a warning strike, which caused a big mess at Germany’s major airports, their colleagues at Eurowings announced walkouts. On Thursday, about one in two Eurowings flights will not be taking off.
Berlin, October 5th, 2022 (The Berlin Spectator) — Eurowings, a low-cost airline that belongs to Lufthansa Group, is busy trying to cushion the effects it expects from a pilot’s strike on Thursday, October 5th, 2022. These walkouts were announced by the union ‘Vereinigung Cockpit’ (VC), which wants a new framework agreement on employment conditions. The employers have not accepted the demand.
Contact Data
Hundreds of Eurowings passengers will be affected, unless the union and Eurowings manage to overcome their differences by Wednesday night. According to the airline, flights operated by Eurowings Discover and Eurowings Europe will take off, but many of Eurowings Germany’s flights will not. On its website and in e-mails to passengers, the airline addressed the issue it faces. According to this information, other airlines that are part of Lufthansa Group could help flying people to their destinations.
Passengers booked for flights on Thursday were asked to check them frequently, on Eurowings’ website. Persons whose flights were cancelled were supposed to be informed about alternatives today. The airline said passengers who had not left their contact data on “My Eurowings” could do so now. That way, they would receive messages by e-mail or SMS.
Rebookings or Cancellations
For Eurowings passengers, one way of saving the situation is to rebook cancelled flights. They can do so online, or via the company’s call center, and they will not be charged. Another way is to cancel their tickets. Individuals who do will be reimbursed later.
On Wednesday afternoon, 19 of 24 Eurowings flights that were scheduled to leave Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) on Thursday were marked as cancelled. Their desinations included Hurghada (Egypt), Palma de Mallorca, Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf and Stuttgart. The arrivals list looked just as bad.
Disproportionate and Irresponsible
While Eurowings called the announced strike disproportionate and irresponsible, the VC union insists on a reduction of the maximum flight duty time for its members, and an extension of their resting periods. Because of the effects of the Corona pandemic, which hit Europe two and a half years ago, the airline industry is under pressure. Some relief was felt during this year’s summer, when the passenger numbers finally increased again.