After three days of pilot strikes with massive flight cancellations, holiday airline Eurowings customers can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being. The pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and the management of Eurowings are resuming collective labor negotiations, according to a joint statement from the airline and VC on Thursday.
It was agreed not to disclose the content of the talks. Eurowings will return to scheduled flights on Thursday. The pilots’ strike ends Wednesday, as announced, shortly before midnight.
On the third day of the strike, about 300 of the approximately 500 scheduled flights were cancelled, slightly more than on the previous two days, a Eurowings spokesperson said. More than 20,000 passengers were affected every day. Some flights to and from Austria were also cancelled.
Pilots want better working conditions
The parties to the collective labor agreement had recently been fighting each other hard in the labor dispute. The pilots’ union is demanding more days off and shorter operating times because flight crews are overworked, especially during peak hours. Eurowings had stated that it was willing to meet 80 percent of the requirements, while complying with the pilot’s wishes would financially ruin the company 100 percent.
In response to the three-day strike, which management believes is disproportionate, the company suspended its growth plan for the Eurowings Deutschland operation on Tuesday. Five additional aircraft, about 200 new jobs and promotions to flight captain would be lost.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
