Of . – 06/10/2022 11:47 (act 06/10/2022 12:50)
A pilots’ strike broke out on Thursday. Eurowings expects around 50% of flights to be canceled that day. ©APA/dpa/Thomas Banneyer (symbol image)
A one-day strike by Eurwings pilots began on Thursday. A union spokesman said the industrial action had started as planned. Eurowings itself expects around 50% of flights to be canceled on Thursday.
Eurowings pilots went on a day-long strike on Thursday. The industrial action began as planned, said a spokesperson for the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union. Eurowings assumes that around half of all flights will be canceled on Thursday. On average, 50,000 to 70,000 passengers are transported daily on around 500 flights. The VC called for a stoppage because negotiations for a collective agreement failed.
Eurowings is planning with planes from an Austrian subsidiary that is not on strike
Eurowings is planning on Thursday mainly with machines from Austrian subsidiary Eurowings Europe, which is not on strike, but also with planes from partner companies that also fly some of the flights. The situation varies greatly depending on the airport, a company spokesman said on Wednesday. Airports such as Mallorca, Stockholm or Prague, which are often served by Eurowings Europe, are less affected. On the other hand, it hit the German targets above average. According to the airport, 118 flights are likely to be canceled in Düsseldorf alone, Eurowings’ largest location. Another 60 should happen. In Cologne/Bonn, 61 of the 90 planned flights were cancelled.
Austria: Eurowings connections in Graz and Linz canceled – one flight in Vienna
Austrian airports are also affected. All Eurowings connections in Graz and Linz were canceled on Thursday. Only one of the 19 planned flights takes place in Vienna. Salzburg Airport, on the other hand, is spared, as reported by radio station ORF “Ö1”.
Please from Eurowings
Eurowings asks customers to check the status of their flight on the website www.eurowings.com or via the Eurowings app. Passengers must have other travel options – such as switching to the train or rebooking on another flight.
The VC is asking its members to leave because negotiations on a collective agreement have failed. The union is in conflict for better working conditions. A core requirement is employee relief, for example by reducing maximum flight duty times.
Eurowings criticizes the strike
Eurowings criticizes the strike as disproportionate and irresponsible. Personnel manager Kai Duve called the demands “at a time when millions of people fear a cold winter and the next heating bill” excessive and dangerous for the future of flight operations and jobs.