200 Lufthansa flights nixed

Friday's strike by Lufthansa pilots runs from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. (1500 to 2100 UTC), with flights to German and European destinations out of Frankfurt affected.

Lufthansa canceled more than 200 flights ahead of the walkout, saying the move would help the airline resume operations more quickly. Long-haul flights are not affected. The cancellations also include some Frankfurt-bound flights departing from other European capitals.

Up to 25,000 passengers will be affected by the cancellations.

Members of Vereinigung Cockpit, the pilots' labor union, have demanded the reinstatement of a benefit allowing pilots to choose early retirement at age 60, on partial pay.

Lufthansa has said it wants all pilots who are medically fit to keep flying until they are 65. The airline wants to cut these payments, amid stiff competition from European budget airlines and major Gulf carriers.

Pilots are also asking for a 10 percent pay rise. A small core of non-union pilots are expected to keep some of the departures in operation.

The planned walkout follows a similar six-hour strike last week by pilots from Lufthansa's budget subsidiary Germanwings. More than 100 flights were canceled at several of Germany's main airports during that walkout.

Lufthansa has criticized the union for striking on an end-of-summer weekend, when thousands of families plan to travel home to Germany.

jr/nm (dpa, AP)