Lufthansa cancels flights ahead of Frankfurt airport strike

Feb 16, 2012, 10:28 GMT

Frankfurt - Lufthansa airline cancelled 100 flights connecting with Frankfurt international airport Thursday, as a seven-hour strike by ground controllers loomed at Europe's third-biggest airport.

Some 200 controllers, who guide planes in and out of parking spots, were to stop work from 3 pm (1400 GMT). The air traffic control labour union said there might be an 18-hour follow-up strike Friday if employers did not concede pay demands.

The airport, which is Lufthansa's home base, says it expects to process more than 50 per cent of traffic with the help of non-union staff and former ground controllers in management returning to their old jobs.

During the seven hours affected by Thursday's strike, 526 movements are normally scheduled. Lufthansa's cancellations comprise 50 takeoffs and 50 landings. A strike on Friday would affect 1,082 scheduled movements.