Lufthansa four-day pilots' strike begins | 4,000 Pilots at German Airline | 3,000 Flights and has Warned of Delays Both Domestically and International

About 4,000 pilots at German airline Lufthansa have gone on strike for four days in a dispute over job security.

The carrier has cancelled about 3,000 flights and has warned of delays both domestically and internationally.

Lufthansa's offer of negotiations with the pilots was not taken up on Sunday before the strike began at midnight (2300GMT).

The pilots work at Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and its low-budget subsidiary, Germanwings.

The airline normally offers about 1,800 flights daily - of which 160 are long-haul trips.

Before the strike began German Transport Minister Peter Ramsauer warned that it would hurt the country's economy as well as Lufthansa's reputation.

The airline - one of the world's largest - fears the strike could cost it about 25m euros (£21.9m; $34m) per day.

The Cockpit Union says the airline is increasingly relying on foreign pilots who fly for less pay.

The pilots are not due to return to work until midnight on Thursday.

Last-minute failure

Lufthansa was offering train journeys to domestic air travellers, and attempting to rebook international passengers on other airlines.

Frankfurt and Munich airports will be the worst hit.

Hours before the strike began, Lufthansa tried a last-ditch effort to resume talks.

"We are open to talks without preconditions," Lufthansa spokesman Klaus Walther said.

He added that "if Cockpit withdrew its list of unworkable and illegal demands... an agreement could be found quickly".

The union wants all Lufthansa pilots, including those working for affiliated airlines overseas, to be paid the same.

Its suggestion on Sunday that that particular issue be put aside while other issues were discussed was rejected by managers, according to AFP news agency.

Cockpit spokesman Joerg Handwerg said: "The Lufthansa management is not interested in dialogue but will not say so openly."

BBC News UK

Posted in: World News