Eurowings Agrees Deal With Pilot Unions

Lufthansa low cost unit Eurowings has reached a deal with unions representing its pilots on new collective bargaining agreements.

Eurowings said as a result of the agreements with the Vereinigung Cockpit and Ver.di unions it will now increase staff numbers at all German bases, including Cologne, Düsseldorf, Munich and Stuttgart as well as in Austria and Spain.

The new collective agreements include pay, conditions, staff representation, occupational pensions, promotion, and part-time work, the airline said in a statement.

The Düsseldorf-based airline will also expand its fleet by 30 aircraft after the deal lifts a restriction of 23 set under a previous agreement with pilots.

“We are now capable of short-term growth in all Eurowings flight operations,” Managing Director Jörg Beissel said. “From now on, we will be advertising positions… for captains, co-pilots, pursers and flight attendants.”

Crews can now apply to both Eurowings Europe and Eurowings Germany as a result of the agreements.

The airline has already hired more than 500 people in recent weeks, including a large number of flight attendants and pilots from the insolvent German carrier Air Berlin.

Eurowings said it has advertised more than 2,000 jobs in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Stuttgart, Munich, Vienna, Salzburg and Palma de Mallorca.

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilot union rejected a Eurowings offer last month saying it should “offer its employees acceptable terms and conditions.”