Lufthansa and the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union have reached agreement at the pay negotiations for around 4,400 pilots employed by Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Lufthansa Cargo AG.Under the terms of the accord, cockpit crews are to receive a pay increase of 2.5 per cent backdated to the expiry of the previous pay agreement on 1 October 2007 and a further three per cent from 1 January 2008. The agreement runs for 18 months up to 31 March 2009. The pay rise works out over a year at close to four per cent.

It was additionally agreed at the talks that the existing system of variable remuneration dependent on growth and results should be adjusted to the Group’s improved earnings situation. The pilots are also to receive a one-off payment amounting to 25 per cent of a monthly salary in recompense for the onerous workload and additional working hours the cockpit crews were called on to perform in face of corporate growth.

Lufthansa Executive Board Member Stefan Lauer: “The pay settlement takes account of the presently good earnings situation of our Group and rewards the team performance of our staff.  In view of its 18 months’ duration and its variable remuneration elements the pay accord is still within acceptable bounds.”
——-