Pilots at Europe’s third largest no frills carrier Air Berlin have announced they will go on strike within the next few days, but have refused to reveal precise dates.
The pilots are pushing for an improved pay deal, claiming their wages lag at least 10% behind those paid by competing airlines.
Air Berlin outlined a strategy in January of reducing its fleet and cutting 900 jobs – 10% of its workforce – to increase earnings by €400 million by 2014.
However, Markus Germann, chief negotiator for the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots union said he wants a "strongly improved offer" from Air Berlin that would raise pilot wages in about three years to the average paid by Lufthansa’s Germanwings no frills subsidiary.
Air Berlin claims it made "a fiar offer" to pilots on May 12, adding that it will do everything it can to minimise effects of any strike. "As it now stands, all flights will be carried out as planned."
