LH to layoff 3500, Ramp up LCC GermanWings..

Lufthansa is willing to accept more strikes, including the participation of its pilots, if that's what it takes to gain the flexibility it needs, Chief Financial Officer Simone Menne said on Monday.

"We are ready to go for further strikes, including with pilots, if necessary," she said at a press briefing in New York.
Trade union Verdi went on strike last week to push through demands for a 5.2 percent pay rise for 33,000 cabin crew and ground staff at Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Technik, Lufthansa Systems, catering unit LSG Sky Chefs and ground crews.
Lufthansa, now implementing a restructuring, has also been in talks with pilot union Cockpit for nearly a year over a new wage agreement and recent union comments have signaled some impatience.
"We will not agree to short-term harmony if there is long-term further burdening," Menne said.
Asked about the cost of last week's strike, Menne said she did not yet have a figure, but that a strike by cabin attendants during peak season last year had cost it 33 million euros ($42.5 million).
Lufthansa is cutting 3,500 jobs, revamping low-cost carrier Germanwings and bundling procurement for its airlines. The restructuring program, dubbed SCORE, is intended to help to boost operating profit to 2.3 billion euros ($3 billion) in 2015 from 524 million euros last year.
Menne also said that the company would definitely not be selling 100 percent of catering unit LSG Sky Chefs and is looking to expand into hospital, school and train food, possibly with a partner.