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Lufthansa German Airlines cancels flights in preparation for strike | 04:15 PM GMT, February 22, 2010

As previously reported via CWT Hot News, the pilots union for Lufthansa German Airlines has voted in favor of a four-day strike to protest wage concessions and possible plans to shift jobs to lower-paying subsidiaries. The airline has cancelled two-thirds of affected Lufthansa-operated flights in preparation for the strike, which is scheduled to begin at midnight Monday, February 22, and continue through Thursday, February 25. Lufthansa reports that its regional partners, such as Lufthansa CityLine, will operate their flights according to schedule.

Lufthansa has published a special flight schedule for the strike period on its website at www.lufthansa.com and has advised that depending upon the actual operating conditions during the days of the strike, further changes may be made to the schedule. Lufthansa flights operated by partner airlines via codeshare agreements are expected not to be impacted by the strike (flight numbers LH1400-2629 and LH5050-6999).

Lufthansa has updated its advice for passengers, as follows:

1. CWT passengers with Lufthansa tickets issued prior to February 19, 2010 whose flights are affected by flight irregularities or cancellation of flights due to the strike are offered the following options:

• Rebook onto a future Lufthansa flight
  - The new date of travel must be on/before May 31, 2010 or within the ticket validity, whichever is longer.
  - The new reservation must be the same origin/destination as the original booking.
  - Lufthansa will waive all change penalties: minimum/maximum stay and advance purchase may be ignored. Seasonality and days-of-week conditions may also be ignored.
  - All other rules of the fare must be observed.
• Cancel the reservation and refund the ticket
  - Passenger may cancel the reservation and receive a full ticket refund without a charge.
  - All cancellation penalty and cancellation service charges will be waived.
  - Originally non-refundable tickets may be refunded fully at no charge.
  

2. For passengers holding other carriers’ ticket documents on affected Lufthansa flights, the following options apply:

• Passenger may re-book to another Lufthansa flight: any change fees or change restrictions will be waived.
• New date of travel must be on/before May 31, 2010 or within the ticket validity, whichever is longer.
• Change of travel origin and/or destination is not permitted.
• Change of routing is not permitted.

3. For passengers holding Lufthansa tickets, issued on or before February 19, 2010, on Lufthansa flights for travel on the days of disruptions, but whose flights have not been affected, have the following options:

• Rebook onto a future Lufthansa flight.
• The new date of travel must be on/before May 31, 2010.
• Any change restrictions in fare rules such as re-booking fee or non-changeability will be waived.
• The origin and destination must remain the same as the original ticket.

CWT clients are encouraged to visit the carrier’s website at www.lufthansa.com for the most current information regarding the strike and for details of the special flight schedule.

CWT will continue to monitor the situation and provide additional information as appropriate.

If you have any questions about the information contained in this Hot News, please contact your CWT representative.