Lufthansa crowned as Europe’s Leading Airline for 2024.
Amidst widespread strikes by thousands of cabin crew and ground staff, Lufthansa, the German flag-carrier airline, has been declared as Europe’s Leading Airline for 2024 at the World Travel Awards.
Lufthansa Secures Title as Europe’s Leading Airline
Lufthansa has clinched the title of Europe’s leading airline and leading airline brand at the 2024 World Travel Awards. Besting contenders like Air France, British Airways, and Iberia, the German airline secured its position. This marks the 12th occasion since the inception of the World Travel Awards in 1993 that Lufthansa has been recognized as the premier airline on the continent. The awards are determined by votes cast by both consumers and executives within the travel and tourism industry, with the latter's votes carrying double weight.
Despite this prestigious accolade, the awards organization provided limited insight into the rationale behind Lufthansa's selection as the winner. The airline received its award during the Europe Gala Ceremony held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Berlin on March 6, 2024.
Rising Industrial Action by Lufthansa Employees
While Lufthansa celebrates its latest achievement, a growing number of its employees are participating in strike actions at airports across Germany.
In the most recent wave of strikes, the Independent Cabin Crew Organisation (UFO) union in Germany called on cabin crew members to stage walkouts on March 12 and 13. Approximately 20,000 employees joined the strike, which was scheduled ahead of the union's return to negotiations with Lufthansa, advocating for a 15 percent salary increase for cabin crew members.
Simultaneously, Lufthansa ground staff continue to engage in ongoing strike actions, with their third walkout in four weeks occurring on the day following the airline's recognition as Europe’s Leading Airline. Ver.di, the union representing ground staff, is demanding a 12.5 percent pay raise for its members, many of whom, as per union spokesperson Marvin Reschinsky, currently earn around 13 euros per hour or slightly more.
Adding another layer of discord, Lufthansa announced on March 7 that it had generated a profit of 2.7 billion euros in 2023, marking the "third-best financial result in the history of the Lufthansa Group.