Lufthansa’s ground crew warning strike in the dispute over higher wages almost completely paralyzed the airline’s operations in Frankfurt and Munich on Wednesday. According to its own statements, the company had to cancel almost all flights to and from Munich and Frankfurt. 19 flights operated by its subsidiary AUA were also affected by the cancellations. However, from Thursday the airline expects regular flights again, according to an APA spokeswoman.
18 AUA connections between Vienna-Frankfurt and Vienna-Munich were canceled on Wednesday due to the ongoing strike. A last flight will be canceled on Thursday morning, because the strike in Germany lasts until 6 am. Then it’s back to regular flight operations, at least until the next round of fare talks, scheduled for August 3 and 4. According to its own statements, Verdi does not plan any further strikes until then.
Fortunately, through good preparation, chaos at Vienna-Schwechat airport could be prevented, the spokeswoman emphasized. The affected passengers were informed in good time so that a helpless crowd in front of the check-in counters could be avoided. About 2,100 passengers were affected by the outages, according to the AUA.
What to do in case of flight cancellation?
Nevertheless, there can always be warning strikes and thus huge restrictions on the airline involved. What travelers can do best in such a situation and what claims they have, according to information from the Federation of Consumer Organizations:
1. Replacement carriage or withdrawal from the contract
In principle, airlines are obliged to offer those affected alternative transport in the event of strike-related cancellations. However, the replacement flight can also be scheduled at a much later time. Alternatively, affected passengers can cancel the flight and receive a refund of the money for the tickets within seven days.
In the case of a package holiday, the travel organizer is the responsible contact person, not the airline that is on strike. Those affected should contact them directly and, if possible, transfer to alternative solutions, such as a flight with another company. If the delay is more than five hours, package travelers can reduce the travel price.
2. Take care in the meantime
If an airline can only organize the desired replacement transport with a large delay, travelers are entitled to care services in the meantime. Depending on the period, these vary from purely catering to hotel accommodation. If a company refuses to cooperate, those involved can provide the food themselves and reclaim the costs later.
3. Right to compensation
Originally, no lump sum compensation was foreseen in the event of strikes, as these were legally classified as force majeure cases. The legal situation has since changed. For example, last March the ECJ did not classify a pilot strike at the airline SAS as an “extraordinary circumstance”, for which the company involved had to pay compensation. However, the consumer consultancy emphasizes that the specific individual case must always be considered. By providing information in a timely manner or due to special circumstances, a company can relieve itself very well.
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.
