- Title: GERMANY: Stranded Lufthansa passengers show support for striking cabin crew
- Date: 31st August 2012
- Summary: FRANKFURT, GERMANY (AUGUST 31, 2012) (REUTERS) PAN ACROSS PASSENGERS STANDING IN LINE AT LUFTHANSA CHECK-IN COUNTERS VARIOUS OF EMPTY FOLDABLE BEDS SEEN THROUGH GLASS DOOR TRACKING SHOT OF PASSENGERS STANDING IN LINE WIDE OF DEPARTURES HALL VARIOUS OF MEN AT LUFTHANSA COUNTER MAN SPEAKING ON MOBILE PHONE ELECTRONIC BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS PEOPLE LOOKING AT BOARD BOARD (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, ACHIM LIND, SAYING: "On the one hand, I think it's justified, on the other hand, since I'm personally affected, it's obviously not great." (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, SUSANNE ZAHNER, SAYING: "In principle, I think it's okay. But you would think the ground personnel is on strike and not the cabin crew: there is nobody around here to ask any questions." (SOUNDBITE) (German) PASSENGER, STEFAN RUDEL, SAYING: "On the one hand, I can understand it but it's just too bad that this is happening at the expense of the passengers. I fly every few weeks and today is our wedding anniversary and we've been standing around for an hour. I'm annoyed." VARIOUS OF STRIKING CABIN CREW WEARING "UFO" UNION VESTS GATHERED AT AIRPORT "UFO" UNION HEAD NICOLEY BAUBLIES ADDRESSING STRIKING COLLEAGUES ON MEGAPHONE VARIOUS OF STRIKING CABIN CREW (SOUNDBITE) (German) LUFTHANSA FLIGHT ATTENDANT, MANUELA EGGERS, SAYING: "I have to be quite honest, I am terrified of losing my job. I am not sure Lufthansa is capable of offering me any perspectives for my job in the future and that's why I'm fighting here." VARIOUS OF STRIKING CABIN CREW GATHERED OUTSIDE AIRPORT
- Embargoed: 15th September 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Economy
- Reuters ID: LVA1QSHHIBWKYVL19S0OTMLE3FPU
- Story Text: A strike by Lufthansa cabin crew disrupted hundreds of flights on Friday (August 31) and stranded thousands of passengers, several of whom expressed support for the industrial action.
Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport AG said it had asked for no flights to depart to Frankfurt from European destinations, citing a lack of parking positions at Germany's busiest airport due to planes grounded by the strike which is over pay and cost-cutting measures.
Intercontinental flights were not affected, Fraport said.
Germany's biggest airline said it cancelled most of the 360 scheduled arrivals and departures at its Frankfurt hub during Friday's eight-hour strike, which followed the breakdown of 13 months of talks with trade union UFO.
"On the one hand, I think it's justified, on the other hand, since I'm personally affected, it's obviously not great," said passengers Achim Lind.
Stefan Rudel, another passenger who had been standing in line for an hour, said "on the one hand, I can understand it but it's just too bad that this is happening at the expense of the passengers. I fly every few weeks and today is our wedding anniversary. I'm annoyed."
Outside the terminal, members of the "UFO" cabin crew union met to listen to their leader, Nicoley Baublies.
Flight attendant Manuela Eggers said "I have to be quite honest, I am terrified of losing my job. I am not sure Lufthansa is capable of offering me any perspectives for my job in the future and that's why I'm fighting here."
UFO, which represents around two-thirds of Lufthansa's 19,000 flight attendants, did not rule out further stoppages over the weekend and said it could call for industrial action at other airports "today or tomorrow". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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