Lufthansa pilots to go on strike but exempt Middle East flights

Core Viewpoint - Lufthansa pilots are set to strike for two days over pension disputes, exempting certain Middle Eastern flights due to the current geopolitical situation [1] Group 1: Strike Details - The strike will occur from March 12, 00:01 to March 13, 23:59, affecting both Lufthansa Cargo AG and passenger flights from German airports [1] - Flights to Egypt, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will be exempt from the strike [1] Group 2: Union and Company Relations - The pilots' union, VC, has expressed frustration over the lack of substantial offers from Lufthansa regarding retirement benefits, despite ongoing discussions [1] - VC President Andreas Pinheiro stated that the union had hoped to avoid escalation but felt compelled to strike due to the absence of a meaningful proposal [1]