Germany's Lufthansa says flights not hit by strike
BERLIN, July 28 (Reuters) - A strike by Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) ground and cabin staff over pay has barely disrupted flights to and from German airports, the airline said on Monday.
Tens of thousands of air passengers had faced travel chaos due to the strike by the Verdi union, which started at midnight (2200 GMT on Sunday) and had threatened to hit support areas from catering and cargo to maintenance and repairs.
"Almost 100 percent of our flights are flying on time," Lufthansa spokesman Klaus Walther told ZDF television, noting that more than 100 planes had taken off punctually.
The union had planned walkouts at several of Germany's largest airports, including international hubs Frankfurt and Hamburg.
The situation could change during the day, however, and some analysts have put the cost of the strike at about 5 million euros ($7.85 million) per day for Lufthansa.
"The effects of the strike are likely to grow in the course of the day and in coming days," Verdi negotiator Erhard Ott told ZDF television.
Verdi, which represents 52,000 air industry workers, wants a 9.8 percent pay rise for one year. Lufthansa, Europe's second biggest airline by passenger numbers, is offering 6.7 percent over 21 months and a one-off payment.
At a time when Europe's biggest economy is seeing a spike in inflation, several unions are seeking bigger wage deals after restraint in recent years. (Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Catherine Evans)
