Lufthansa strike begins

on 07/09/2012 08:58:06

Lufthansa's flight attendants launched a 24-hour nationwide strike at midnight, forcing the German carrier to cancel about two-thirds of its scheduled flights across the world.

The escalating labour battle comes as Germany's largest airline struggles to fend off challenges from budget carriers and government-owned airlines in the Persian Gulf.

The strike was the most extensive of three work stoppages over the past week after 13 months of contract negotiations broke down over differences in pay and union demands that the airline agree not to outsource jobs or employ temporary cabin crew employees.