Lufthansa pilots begin strike, disrupt flight schedule

FRANKFURT, Germany, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- A strike by pilots Tuesday has disrupted the long-haul flight schedule of German airline Lufthansa.

The airline said only 32 of its 57 flights from its Frankfort, Germany, hub would travel as scheduled. The one-day strike could mean flights in and out of Frankfort's airport, Europe's third-largest, could be disrupted by Wednesday.

"Since management is still failing to come up with an offer for a compromise we see ourselves forced to resort to this measure," the pilots' union said in a statement.

At issue for the 5,400 pilots employed by Lufthansa and its subsidiaries is the company's plan to raise the minimum retirement age and interest in having pilots fund part of their own pensions. Negotiations between each side ended Thursday with no agreement, although Lufthansa said it "signaled its willingness to compromise."

The strike is the fourth brief strike by Lufthansa pilots this year.