Lufthansa strike interrupts some cargo service

Lufthansa Airlines canceled 78 flights on Wednesday and plans to cancel 128 flights today as a strike by technical and catering workers entered its fourth day, according to news reports from Germany.

Flights are being scrubbed when technicians aren't available to do required safety checks.

Union workers went on strike Monday over a dispute about pay increases. The work stoppage by trade union Ver.di is planned to last two weeks.

The strike is having some impact on freight originating, transiting or terminating in Germany.

Lufthansa's cargo division said there were no major freight delays at its main hub in Frankfurt, but that major problems exist in Hamburg. No freighter flights have been canceled so far, and the airline said it expects normal freighter operations through Thursday.

A large amount of cargo is transported in the holds of passenger planes. Most of the canceled flights are intra-Germany and intra-European flights, but more than two-dozen international flights were also terminated.

Lufthansa Cargo said it has placed an embargo on valuables until Aug. 1 and on some live animal transport until Aug. 5.

Analysts estimate the strike is costing the German national airline about $7.9 million per day and losses could grow if the strike continues, newsmagazine Spiegel reported on its Web site.

And the news doesn't get better for Lufthansa. The union that represents flight attendants has said it is prepared to strike to procure a 15 percent wage increase for its members. Ver.di is seeking a 9.8 percent increase and Lufthansa has offered 6.7 percent.