The Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) is concerned about recent statements by Peter Albers, Managing Director of Lufthansa City Airlines. He stated that cabin crews who do not speak German could be hired in the future. The union warns of a decline in safety standards and a potential danger to passengers.
Joachim Vázquez Bürger, CEO of UFO, emphasizes that a common language on board is essential for efficient action in safety-relevant situations. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) shares this view. In particular, it is criticized that, in addition to German, the industry-standard English level B2 is apparently no longer consistently tested. This could lead to communication problems among the crew in an emergency.
The UFO sees economic motives behind the lowering of qualification requirements. The union fears that Lufthansa City Airlines is trying to reduce operating costs by lowering entry barriers. CEO Carsten Spohr had announced that he would deploy aircraft wherever they could be operated most cost-effectively. This contradicts the high safety standards that have previously applied to Lufthansa employees.
The union is therefore calling for collective bargaining to begin quickly in order to create attractive and competitive working conditions. The aim must be to recruit well-trained specialists without jeopardising safety. UFO has declared itself ready to enter into talks at any time.
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