Lufthansa pilots strike for 3rd day, 700 flights cancelled

Frankfurt

LUFTHANSA pilots began a third straight day of walkouts on Friday, grounding 700 flights as they try to put pressure on management in a protracted row over early retirement benefits and cost cuts.

Lufthansa wants to cut spending to levels nearer those of its rivals as it is squeezed by budget carriers Ryanair and easyJet on European routes and by airlines such as Turkish and Emirates on long-haul flights. Including Friday's strike, pilots have walked out 14 times since last April, costing Lufthansa more than 200 million euros (S$297 million) in lost operating profit last year alone.