Flight cancellations expected in pilots strike at Germany's Eurowings

About half of all scheduled flights with Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings are expected to be cancelled on Thursday as pilots launch a one-day strike to press their demands for shorter working hours and longer rest times, reported dpa.

Talks on a collective labour agreement at the low-cost carrier, which focuses on short-haul European destinations, have broken down, the German pilots' Union Cockpit said on Tuesday.

"Ten rounds of negotiations, two of which following the clear signal of a strike ballot, have not led to any noteworthy convergence," it said.

Eurowings - a subsidiary of the German national carrier - criticized the announced strike as disproportionate and irresponsible.

The union wants a reduction in maximum flight duty times and seeks more rest time for pilots.

Eurowings said it will do everything possible to minimize the impact of the strike measures on passengers. Passengers whose flights are cancelled due to the strike should be informed about alternative transport options by Wednesday afternoon at the latest.

Only Eurowings Germany flights are affected by the strike, not Eurowings Europe flights, the airline said on Wednesday.

The airline assumes that it will be able to run about half its normal flight schedule.