Discover Airlines Hit by Four-Day Strike Disrupting Frankfurt and Munich Flights
Pilots and cabin crew at Discover Airlines, a subsidiary of Lufthansa focused on leisure travel, have initiated a four-day strike, significantly impacting the airline’s operations from its main hubs at Frankfurt and Munich airports. The industrial action, which began on August 27, 2024, is set to continue until August 30, 2024, causing widespread disruptions to the carrier’s flight schedules.
The strike is being led by two major trade unions representing the airline’s staff: Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation (UFO) and Vereinigung Cockpit (VC). The decision to strike comes after an overwhelming majority of union members voted in favor of industrial action. At UFO, nearly 92% of members supported the strike, while 81% of VC members also voted to take part, demanding better pay and working conditions.
This strike follows a recent agreement between Lufthansa and Germany’s largest trade union, ver.di, which secured a 5% pay increase for its members at the beginning of August 2024. However, both UFO and VC have rejected the ver.di deal, arguing that it falls short of meeting their members’ needs. UFO is demanding an 8.5% pay raise as part of any new settlement, in addition to improvements in other working conditions.
One of the key issues driving the strike is UFO’s ongoing dispute with Discover Airlines over the lack of a current labor agreement. The union claims that the airline has been avoiding negotiations since 2022, leaving its members without a formal agreement. UFO is seeking to establish a comprehensive settlement that would be effective until December 31, 2026, covering key aspects such as remuneration, leave entitlements, higher daily allowances, and other conditions.
Frank Blanken, Head of Public Relations at Vereinigung Cockpit, criticized the current situation, stating, “The Ver.di contract leaves many points unregulated to the advantage of the employer. At the same time, the design of the differentiation clauses appears to be questionable and on shaky legal ground. It shows the employer’s helpless naivete if they believe that pilots can be duped so easily.”
Discover Airlines, formerly known as Eurowings Discover, was rebranded in September 2023 by the Lufthansa Group to focus on leisure travel, offering short, medium, and long-haul flights from Germany. The airline operates a fleet of 27 Airbus aircraft, including 14 Airbus A320s, three A330-200s, and ten A330-300s, with plans to expand to 33 aircraft by the end of 2027. Discover Airlines employs around 2,000 staff members.
As the strike unfolds, Discover Airlines is working to minimize disruptions, advising passengers to regularly check the status of their flights through the airline’s website. During the four days of industrial action, the airline had scheduled 135 departures from Germany, including flights to popular Mediterranean vacation spots, as well as destinations in the United States and other regions.
The outcome of the strike and the subsequent negotiations between Discover Airlines and the unions will be closely watched, as the situation could set a precedent for labor relations within the Lufthansa Group’s broader network. Passengers are advised to stay informed and prepared for potential changes to their travel plans during this period of uncertainty.