by Lufthansa Flyer | Dec 3, 2015 | Featured, Lufthansa, Strike |
Early today in Frankfurt, a much awaited meeting took place between Lufthansa and the 3 main unions that cover most of their employees. Based on the comments coming from the meeting, there seems to be a genuine desire to find solutions but no firm outcomes came from the sessions.
Instead, all sides agreed that they need to improve trust and transparency amongst one another if long term labor peace is to be achieved. However that transparency does not involve the public as all sides decided that the contents of todays meeting are to be held in confidence. In addition, LH and the unions also agreed to keep the nature of future negotiations from the public as well.
As an optimist, these comments strike me as a desire by the airline and unions to keep their dirty laundry between themselves and not wage their battles in public. As part of this, they’ll try to restore trust that may have been lost between the airline and labor. Their comment about keeping their battles out of the public’s eye suggest to me that strikes would not be used as a weapon, but I may be TOO optimistic to go that far.
However as a pessimist, I do not get a positive ‘vibe’ after today’s meeting that anything has truly been accomplished. I continue to get the impression both sides have serious impasses to overcome and are not really certain how to do it, nor is anyone prepared to give up any ground in the process which means we can expect more of the same behaviors going forward.
Insanity is defined by the concept of doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result from the process.
I can’t think of a better way to sum things up when it comes to how things are going between LH and the unions.
There is however on small bit of silver lining…..
Late last week, LH and Ver.di, who represents 30,000 LH employees who are not cabin crew or pilots, reached a deal that would enhance pension benefits and provide for pay increases over the next 2 years. As part of the deal, members will also get a one time payment of up to €2250 this year. This new contract will be in force until December 2017.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Nov 29, 2015 | Featured, Lufthansa, Munich, Plane Spotting |
On a cold day in Munich, with bits of freezing rain and whipping winds to keep me less than comfortable, I finally accomplished a project that started 3 years ago. Today, when I shot Lufthansa’s A330 ‘D-AIKS’ departing Munich for Charlotte, I had completed personally spotting and photographing the entire Lufthansa mainline fleet which includes all their A319-20-21, A330, A340, 747, 747-8i, and A380 aircraft.
Wheels Up……D-AIKS departs Munich for Charlotte
I’ve been stalking her patterns over the last 2 weeks and with help from a few insiders at Lufthansa, I was able to know her schedule a week in advance. I had been in Europe for other reasons and this simply coincided perfectly.
There was however a scare this morning as to her whereabouts. I had expected ‘KS’ to depart mid-morning for Mumbai but that departure came and went without her…..
Originally, ‘KS’ was slated to fly between Munich and Mumbai, but because of a delayed return from Mumbai from the previous night she could not be turned around in time to return to Mumbai as planned.
No information was available from my regular sources since it was a Sunday but as luck would have it, ‘KS’ pulled on to the taxiway as the last A330 that was leaving from the morning long-haul departure rush. I really did not want to wait around in the rain and wind for the late afternoon departures for Washington, Boston and Newark, nor did I want to keep hunting her indefinitely. I’m glad it worked out in the end!
Over the next few weeks (which will probably turn into months), I’ll try to published the entire fleet in the Lufthansa gallery on my Aero-Shots.com website.
It does appear however, that I need to find a new hobby!
‘KS’ pulling away from Munich
Spotting the spotter as KS departed Munich. Thanks to FlyerTalk’s ‘NewbieRunner’ for catching the moment!
by Lufthansa Flyer | Nov 27, 2015 | Cargo, Featured, Fleet Update, Lufthansa, Plane Spotting |
Lufthansa Cargo yesterday unveiled one of their MD-11s with a fresh new livery celebrating the good work that LH Cargo does with ‘Cargo Human Care’.
For those of you unfamiliar with Cargo Human Care (CHC), it is an organization almost exclusively comprised of Lufthansa Cargo employees (past and present) who volunteer their time and efforts to help a variety of organizations in and around Nairobi, Kenya.
The organization coordinates with Doctors, Surgeons and other medical professionals to bring them to Kenya on regular rotations so that they can provide medical care to those in need. These volunteers fly aboard LH Cargo flights to Nairobi, along with supplies and materials that are needed for various projects.
One of their most important efforts is the help they bring the the Mothers Mercy Home in Kianjogu, Kenya. The home provides shelter and care for approximately 120 orphaned children. Along side the home is the Cargo Human Care Medical Center which provides free medical treatments to members of the local community. Last year, CHC treated over 22,000 people at their clinic!
In the coming weeks, I’ll share more about CHC and the good deeds that they bring to those in need, including some of the great accomplishments that CHC has achieved. In the mean time, if you’d like to learn more about CHC, please visit their website.
Now back to the livery……
LH Cargo took one of the MD11s and dressed it up in a CHC theme and unveiled it in Frankfurt. As you’ll see below, the MD11 (D-ALCH) is adorned in children’s footprints symbolizing CHC’s ‘Step by step. Giving children a future’ slogan. I can’t think of many better ways to bring awareness to such a great organization and cause!
Some of the kids helped by CHC add their personal touch to the new livery.
D-ALCH arriving in Nairobi, courtesy of Lufthansa Cargo
Arrival at the ramp in Nairobi, courtesy of Lufthansa Cargo
Here are a couple of ‘unofficial’ photos showing the aircraft in the hangar shortly after having the new livery added…..
