Pilots at Lufthansa Cityline subsidiary vote to strike

German group Lufthansa is facing a new strike after pilots at the Lufthansa Cityline subsidiary voted in favor of industrial action on Thursday.

In a vote organized by the Cockpit Association (VC) union, 99% of votes supported the strike, with a turnout of 95%.

The date of the walkout has not been announced, but the result comes just two weeks after pilots of the main brand Lufthansa staged a one-day strike. More than 800 flights have been canceled, affecting around 100,000 passengers.

Lufthansa Cityline operates regional flights to hubs in Munich and Frankfurt, employing around 500 pilots.

The carrier’s operations are expected to be phased out next year and its routes will be transferred to the new Lufthansa City Airlines brand.

The move was opposed by employees and unions, who see the move as part of the group’s strategy to put pressure on working conditions at old subsidiaries with new airline operations such as City Airlines and Discover.

However, according to the VC, the latest planned strike is linked to another dispute over collective bargaining.

The union is demanding annual wage increases of 3.3% and says the employers’ latest offer falls far short of meeting demands.