{"id":1821845,"date":"2026-03-12T07:47:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T04:47:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1821845"},"modified":"2026-03-12T07:47:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T04:47:06","slug":"germany-news-lufthansa-pilots-stage-another-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1821845","title":{"rendered":"Germany news: Lufthansa pilots stage another strike"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76316716_6.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"s1sfzv1a sk6xmai\">\n<div class=\"content-area sa7l9jt s9mg977\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"sharing-icons-inline\" class=\"c75t7t0 hh5424a in-line closed\">\n<div class=\"copy-button-wrapper closed\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ADEg<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"s4bcs45\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76316716_800.webp 50w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76316716_801.webp 129w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76316716_802.webp 352w, https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76316716_803.webp 575w\" media=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 575px)\" height=\"100\" width=\"100\" \/><figcaption class=\"c1oedowi lofg86o m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Many Lufthansa planes will stay on the ground on Thursday and Friday<small class=\"copyright c19ed66t ihwmx5 idu7i8u lxmvniw icns9en rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Image: Heiko Becker\/REUTERS<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" id=\"live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"c1800ln sq3xutt atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-lufthansa-pilots-stage-another-strike\/live-76315842#post-live-blog-rich-text-overview\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section What you need to know<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"c2fyhwl ctymiyf content-block i1if36d6 i1ytahzz\">\n<h2 class=\"cp7bjxx h1du6kc5 lt5vbch pohyj9x s16w0xvi m1u0isv1 b1fzgn0z\">What you need to know<\/h2>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>Pilots from\u00a0Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Cityline are staging a 48-hour strike, the second in as many months, with their union calling for pay increases and better company pensions<\/li>\n<li>Chancellor Friedrich Merz is off to Norway to discuss cooperation on space projects, arms and energy<\/li>\n<li>Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is due in Turkey for talks at the end of a crisis trip to the Middle East<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Here is a rundown of top headlines and human interest stories from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany\/t-17871182\">Germany<\/a> on Thursday, March 12, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"s1ogwy7c ev9ivjh\">\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76318418\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-lufthansa-pilots-stage-another-strike\/live-76315842#post-liveblog-post-76318418\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section BMW&#8217;s protits drop in 2025 for third year running \u2014 but less than expected<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/12\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 12, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">BMW&#8217;s protits drop in 2025 for third year running \u2014 but less than expected<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Carmaker <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bayerische-motorenwerke-bmw\/t-17449037\">BMW<\/a> has reported a drop in net profit of about 3% to just under \u20ac7.5 billion ($8.7 billion)\u00a0for 2025, a smaller decline\u00a0than analysts had predicted and much less than the fall experienced by major domestic rivals.<\/p>\n<p>The new figures, which come among a broader downturn in Germany&#8217;s vital <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-car-industry\/t-71254025\">car industry<\/a>, showed BMW&#8217;s revenue declining\u00a0by 6.3% to \u20ac133 billion, while the company issued a negative outlook for 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The results put BMW at the head of the profits table for 2025 among Germany&#8217;s major carmakers, with <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-carnival-security-threat-level-remains-high\/live-75925339\">Mercedes-Benz\u00a0reporting\u00a0a net profit of \u20ac5.3 billion<\/a> and the much larger\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/volkswagen-group-profits-take-big-hit-on-porsche-shift\/a-76287744\">Volkswagen Group \u20ac6.9 billion<\/a> \u2014\u00a0in both cases approaching\u00a0half that of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>BMW has several advantages over its rivals in the current economic conditions. They include having a large manufacturing plant in the US, which mitigates the effect of the US tariffs currently affecting all European carmakers.<\/p>\n<p>It also possesses\u00a0flexible production lines capable of assembling electric vehicles, hybrids and combustion-engine cars on the same line.<\/p>\n<p>This means it can cope better with the uncertainty regarding the timeline of the transition from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/energiewende-transition-to-renewable-power-sources\/t-17351905\">combustion engines to electric motors.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0&#8220;We are tackling the challenges in global markets head on, leveraging our strengths and implementing our long-term strategy,&#8221;\u00a0chief executive Oliver Zipse said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We have made significant investments and have created the right operating framework to deliver continued success.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>BMW stands before an imminent change of leadership, with\u00a0Milan Nedeljkovic, the company&#8217;s current head of production,\u00a0set to take over from Zipse on May 14.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ADuE<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76317091\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-lufthansa-pilots-stage-another-strike\/live-76315842#post-liveblog-post-76317091\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Merz heads for Norway to talk space, arms, energy<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/12\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 12, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Merz heads for Norway to talk space, arms, energy<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>German Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> is set to travel to northern <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/norway\/t-18943636\">Norway<\/a> on Thursday, with talks planned with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in the evening.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, the two leaders are scheduled to visit the Andoya Space Port in Andenes, which has provided facilities, among other things, for German and European space operations.<\/p>\n<p>Merz and Store, together with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, are then to\u00a0observe the Cold\u00a0Response military exercise at the Bardufoss military base.<\/p>\n<p>Some 1,600 members of German armed forces are taking part in the exercise in Norway and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/finland\/t-65197962\">Finland<\/a>, alongside tens of thousands of other soldiers from 13 other\u00a0NATO countries, including the US.<\/p>\n<p>The drill began on March 9 and is to run until March 19.<\/p>\n<p>Merz&#8217;s visit is expected to focus on cooperation in the fields of space and arms but also on energy supply \u2014 a topic that has taken on added importance amid the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">Middle East war<\/a>, which has led to stoppages of oil and gas transports.<\/p>\n<p>Norway accounts for some 48% of Germany&#8217;s natural gas imports and 9% of its oil imports, with just 6.1% of crude oil coming from the Middle East last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ADYp<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76316627\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-lufthansa-pilots-stage-another-strike\/live-76315842#post-liveblog-post-76316627\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Lufthansa pilots start two-day strike<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/12\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 12, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Lufthansa pilots start two-day strike<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>A two-day strike by pilots from the airlines <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lufthansa\/t-17443992\">Lufthansa<\/a>, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Cityline began on Thursday morning, with flights to and from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/munich\/t-18949734\">Munich<\/a> and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/frankfurt\/t-18968328\">Frankfurt<\/a> set to be affected the most.<\/p>\n<p>According to Lufthansa, however, at least half of scheduled flights will still run over the two days, with up to 60% of flights on long-haul routes expected to operate.<\/p>\n<p>The pilots&#8217; union behind the strike, Vereinigung Cockpit, has said the strike, which began at midnight, will be on a smaller scale than <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-lufthansa-strike-grounds-hundreds-of-flights\/a-75922927\">a walkout a month ago that also included cabin crew.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The head of the union, Andreas Pinheiro, said he expects around 300 flight cancellations per day, compared with what Lufthansa said were\u00a0800 flight cancellations\u00a0during the previous walkout on February 12.<\/p>\n<p>The airline has condemned the strike as an unnecessary escalation, highlighting its particularly negative impact at a time when<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">the war in Iran<\/a> has already affected passengers worldwide.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Flights to the Middle East have, however,\u00a0been excluded from the strike action.<\/p>\n<p>The union, for its part, is calling for pay increases\u00a0at the regional subsidiary CityLine and for\u00a0 higher company pensions for pilots at Lufthansa Cargo and the core Lufthansa airline.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ADRL<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-tracking-name=\"section-liveblog-post\" id=\"liveblog-post-76316641\" class=\"liveblog-post sh8w7rk atfzu66\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-lufthansa-pilots-stage-another-strike\/live-76315842#post-liveblog-post-76316641\" class=\"q1knotlb b14agbwd quick-item\"><span class=\"h1du6kc5 l1ozsu87 p1s74fjj s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Skip next section Welcome to our coverage<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"l3vczb5\"><span class=\"time-area s1i8qhb9 icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><span class=\"publication icns9en lofg86o m1u0isv1 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"><time aria-hidden=\"true\">03\/12\/2026<\/time><span class=\"s28j2rd\">March 12, 2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"pmcvy6l h1du6kc5 l1evdo4u p1y8x1v s16w0xvi sngcpkw b1fzgn0z\">Welcome to our coverage<\/h2>\n<div class=\"a9wq4ao author-details\"><span><span class=\"separator lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> | <\/span><span class=\"extra-info lxmvniw m4xla6a s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\"> Editor<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><em>Guten Tag<\/em> from the\u00a0DW newsroom in Bonn!<\/p>\n<p>You join us as air passengers in Germany are set for two days of travel disruption amid a strike by <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lufthansa\/t-17443992\">Lufthansa<\/a> pilots, which comes at a time when world aviation is anyway in turmoil amid the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>That conflict and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/russias-war-in-ukraine\/t-60931789\">Russia&#8217;s ongoing invasion of Ukraine<\/a>\u00a0are both likely to overshadow a visit by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/norway\/t-18943636\">Norway<\/a>, which is to focus on cooperation between Germany and the Nordic country on space projects, arms and energy.<\/p>\n<p>Norway is particularly vital to Germany in the latter regard, with some\u00a048% of Germany&#8217;s natural gas imports and 9% of its oil imports coming\u00a0from the country.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is to wrap\u00a0up a tour of the Middle East prompted by the ongoing conflict there with a visit to NATO partner Turkey, which has also been targeted by Iranian missiles in the past few days.<\/p>\n<p>Read on for more on these and other stories on Thursday, March 12.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"bp605kw start\"><span class=\"svdcmki\">https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ADRZ<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"h4zlaoh bp605kw center\">\n<div role=\"button\" data-tracking-name=\"show-more\" class=\"show-more-button s1va3u11 t1y9040i m7i2pic e3w9kkf b19vsmfu cx4rgdt ih9bob8 disabled sngcpkw w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">Show more posts<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<ul>\n<li>Pilots from\u00a0Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Cityline are staging a 48-hour strike, the second in as many months, with their union calling for pay increases and better company pensions<\/li>\n<li>Chancellor Friedrich Merz is off to Norway to discuss cooperation on space projects, arms and energy<\/li>\n<li>Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is due in Turkey for talks at the end of a crisis trip to the Middle East<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Here is a rundown of top headlines and human interest stories from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany\/t-17871182\">Germany<\/a> on Thursday, March 12, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Here is a rundown of top headlines and human interest stories from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany\/t-17871182\">Germany<\/a> on Thursday, March 12, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>Carmaker <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bayerische-motorenwerke-bmw\/t-17449037\">BMW<\/a> has reported a drop in net profit of about 3% to just under \u20ac7.5 billion ($8.7 billion)\u00a0for 2025, a smaller decline\u00a0than analysts had predicted and much less than the fall experienced by major domestic rivals.<\/p>\n<p>The new figures, which come among a broader downturn in Germany&#8217;s vital <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-car-industry\/t-71254025\">car industry<\/a>, showed BMW&#8217;s revenue declining\u00a0by 6.3% to \u20ac133 billion, while the company issued a negative outlook for 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The results put BMW at the head of the profits table for 2025 among Germany&#8217;s major carmakers, with <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-carnival-security-threat-level-remains-high\/live-75925339\">Mercedes-Benz\u00a0reporting\u00a0a net profit of \u20ac5.3 billion<\/a> and the much larger\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/volkswagen-group-profits-take-big-hit-on-porsche-shift\/a-76287744\">Volkswagen Group \u20ac6.9 billion<\/a> \u2014\u00a0in both cases approaching\u00a0half that of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>BMW has several advantages over its rivals in the current economic conditions. They include having a large manufacturing plant in the US, which mitigates the effect of the US tariffs currently affecting all European carmakers.<\/p>\n<p>It also possesses\u00a0flexible production lines capable of assembling electric vehicles, hybrids and combustion-engine cars on the same line.<\/p>\n<p>This means it can cope better with the uncertainty regarding the timeline of the transition from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/energiewende-transition-to-renewable-power-sources\/t-17351905\">combustion engines to electric motors.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0&#8220;We are tackling the challenges in global markets head on, leveraging our strengths and implementing our long-term strategy,&#8221;\u00a0chief executive Oliver Zipse said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We have made significant investments and have created the right operating framework to deliver continued success.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>BMW stands before an imminent change of leadership, with\u00a0Milan Nedeljkovic, the company&#8217;s current head of production,\u00a0set to take over from Zipse on May 14.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Carmaker <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/bayerische-motorenwerke-bmw\/t-17449037\">BMW<\/a> has reported a drop in net profit of about 3% to just under \u20ac7.5 billion ($8.7 billion)\u00a0for 2025, a smaller decline\u00a0than analysts had predicted and much less than the fall experienced by major domestic rivals.<\/p>\n<p>The new figures, which come among a broader downturn in Germany&#8217;s vital <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/german-car-industry\/t-71254025\">car industry<\/a>, showed BMW&#8217;s revenue declining\u00a0by 6.3% to \u20ac133 billion, while the company issued a negative outlook for 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The results put BMW at the head of the profits table for 2025 among Germany&#8217;s major carmakers, with <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-carnival-security-threat-level-remains-high\/live-75925339\">Mercedes-Benz\u00a0reporting\u00a0a net profit of \u20ac5.3 billion<\/a> and the much larger\u00a0<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/volkswagen-group-profits-take-big-hit-on-porsche-shift\/a-76287744\">Volkswagen Group \u20ac6.9 billion<\/a> \u2014\u00a0in both cases approaching\u00a0half that of 2024.<\/p>\n<p>BMW has several advantages over its rivals in the current economic conditions. They include having a large manufacturing plant in the US, which mitigates the effect of the US tariffs currently affecting all European carmakers.<\/p>\n<p>It also possesses\u00a0flexible production lines capable of assembling electric vehicles, hybrids and combustion-engine cars on the same line.<\/p>\n<p>This means it can cope better with the uncertainty regarding the timeline of the transition from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/energiewende-transition-to-renewable-power-sources\/t-17351905\">combustion engines to electric motors.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0&#8220;We are tackling the challenges in global markets head on, leveraging our strengths and implementing our long-term strategy,&#8221;\u00a0chief executive Oliver Zipse said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We have made significant investments and have created the right operating framework to deliver continued success.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>BMW stands before an imminent change of leadership, with\u00a0Milan Nedeljkovic, the company&#8217;s current head of production,\u00a0set to take over from Zipse on May 14.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>German Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> is set to travel to northern <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/norway\/t-18943636\">Norway<\/a> on Thursday, with talks planned with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in the evening.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, the two leaders are scheduled to visit the Andoya Space Port in Andenes, which has provided facilities, among other things, for German and European space operations.<\/p>\n<p>Merz and Store, together with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, are then to\u00a0observe the Cold\u00a0Response military exercise at the Bardufoss military base.<\/p>\n<p>Some 1,600 members of German armed forces are taking part in the exercise in Norway and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/finland\/t-65197962\">Finland<\/a>, alongside tens of thousands of other soldiers from 13 other\u00a0NATO countries, including the US.<\/p>\n<p>The drill began on March 9 and is to run until March 19.<\/p>\n<p>Merz&#8217;s visit is expected to focus on cooperation in the fields of space and arms but also on energy supply \u2014 a topic that has taken on added importance amid the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">Middle East war<\/a>, which has led to stoppages of oil and gas transports.<\/p>\n<p>Norway accounts for some 48% of Germany&#8217;s natural gas imports and 9% of its oil imports, with just 6.1% of crude oil coming from the Middle East last year.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>German Chancellor <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/friedrich-merz\/t-60575802\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> is set to travel to northern <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/norway\/t-18943636\">Norway<\/a> on Thursday, with talks planned with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in the evening.<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, the two leaders are scheduled to visit the Andoya Space Port in Andenes, which has provided facilities, among other things, for German and European space operations.<\/p>\n<p>Merz and Store, together with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, are then to\u00a0observe the Cold\u00a0Response military exercise at the Bardufoss military base.<\/p>\n<p>Some 1,600 members of German armed forces are taking part in the exercise in Norway and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/finland\/t-65197962\">Finland<\/a>, alongside tens of thousands of other soldiers from 13 other\u00a0NATO countries, including the US.<\/p>\n<p>The drill began on March 9 and is to run until March 19.<\/p>\n<p>Merz&#8217;s visit is expected to focus on cooperation in the fields of space and arms but also on energy supply \u2014 a topic that has taken on added importance amid the <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">Middle East war<\/a>, which has led to stoppages of oil and gas transports.<\/p>\n<p>Norway accounts for some 48% of Germany&#8217;s natural gas imports and 9% of its oil imports, with just 6.1% of crude oil coming from the Middle East last year.<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p>A two-day strike by pilots from the airlines <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lufthansa\/t-17443992\">Lufthansa<\/a>, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Cityline began on Thursday morning, with flights to and from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/munich\/t-18949734\">Munich<\/a> and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/frankfurt\/t-18968328\">Frankfurt<\/a> set to be affected the most.<\/p>\n<p>According to Lufthansa, however, at least half of scheduled flights will still run over the two days, with up to 60% of flights on long-haul routes expected to operate.<\/p>\n<p>The pilots&#8217; union behind the strike, Vereinigung Cockpit, has said the strike, which began at midnight, will be on a smaller scale than <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-lufthansa-strike-grounds-hundreds-of-flights\/a-75922927\">a walkout a month ago that also included cabin crew.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The head of the union, Andreas Pinheiro, said he expects around 300 flight cancellations per day, compared with what Lufthansa said were\u00a0800 flight cancellations\u00a0during the previous walkout on February 12.<\/p>\n<p>The airline has condemned the strike as an unnecessary escalation, highlighting its particularly negative impact at a time when<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">the war in Iran<\/a> has already affected passengers worldwide.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Flights to the Middle East have, however,\u00a0been excluded from the strike action.<\/p>\n<p>The union, for its part, is calling for pay increases\u00a0at the regional subsidiary CityLine and for\u00a0 higher company pensions for pilots at Lufthansa Cargo and the core Lufthansa airline.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>A two-day strike by pilots from the airlines <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lufthansa\/t-17443992\">Lufthansa<\/a>, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Cityline began on Thursday morning, with flights to and from <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/munich\/t-18949734\">Munich<\/a> and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/frankfurt\/t-18968328\">Frankfurt<\/a> set to be affected the most.<\/p>\n<p>According to Lufthansa, however, at least half of scheduled flights will still run over the two days, with up to 60% of flights on long-haul routes expected to operate.<\/p>\n<p>The pilots&#8217; union behind the strike, Vereinigung Cockpit, has said the strike, which began at midnight, will be on a smaller scale than <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-lufthansa-strike-grounds-hundreds-of-flights\/a-75922927\">a walkout a month ago that also included cabin crew.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The head of the union, Andreas Pinheiro, said he expects around 300 flight cancellations per day, compared with what Lufthansa said were\u00a0800 flight cancellations\u00a0during the previous walkout on February 12.<\/p>\n<p>The airline has condemned the strike as an unnecessary escalation, highlighting its particularly negative impact at a time when<a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-israel-war-with-iran\/t-76168615\">the war in Iran<\/a> has already affected passengers worldwide.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Flights to the Middle East have, however,\u00a0been excluded from the strike action.<\/p>\n<p>The union, for its part, is calling for pay increases\u00a0at the regional subsidiary CityLine and for\u00a0 higher company pensions for pilots at Lufthansa Cargo and the core Lufthansa airline.<br \/>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<div data-tracking-skip=\"true\" data-tracking-name=\"rich-text\" class=\"post-rich-text c17j8gzx rc0m0op r1ebneao s198y7xq rich-text l1evdo4u blt0baw s16w0xvi rcjjkz7 w128axg5 b1fzgn0z\">\n<p><em>Guten Tag<\/em> from the\u00a0DW newsroom in Bonn!<\/p>\n<p>You join us as air passengers in Germany are set for two days of travel disruption amid a strike by <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lufthansa\/t-17443992\">Lufthansa<\/a> pilots, which comes at a time when world aviation is anyway in turmoil amid the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>That conflict and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/russias-war-in-ukraine\/t-60931789\">Russia&#8217;s ongoing invasion of Ukraine<\/a>\u00a0are both likely to overshadow a visit by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/norway\/t-18943636\">Norway<\/a>, which is to focus on cooperation between Germany and the Nordic country on space projects, arms and energy.<\/p>\n<p>Norway is particularly vital to Germany in the latter regard, with some\u00a048% of Germany&#8217;s natural gas imports and 9% of its oil imports coming\u00a0from the country.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is to wrap\u00a0up a tour of the Middle East prompted by the ongoing conflict there with a visit to NATO partner Turkey, which has also been targeted by Iranian missiles in the past few days.<\/p>\n<p>Read on for more on these and other stories on Thursday, March 12.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em>Guten Tag<\/em> from the\u00a0DW newsroom in Bonn!<\/p>\n<p>You join us as air passengers in Germany are set for two days of travel disruption amid a strike by <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/lufthansa\/t-17443992\">Lufthansa<\/a> pilots, which comes at a time when world aviation is anyway in turmoil amid the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>That conflict and <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/russias-war-in-ukraine\/t-60931789\">Russia&#8217;s ongoing invasion of Ukraine<\/a>\u00a0are both likely to overshadow a visit by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to <a class=\"internal-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/norway\/t-18943636\">Norway<\/a>, which is to focus on cooperation between Germany and the Nordic country on space projects, arms and energy.<\/p>\n<p>Norway is particularly vital to Germany in the latter regard, with some\u00a048% of Germany&#8217;s natural gas imports and 9% of its oil imports coming\u00a0from the country.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is to wrap\u00a0up a tour of the Middle East prompted by the ongoing conflict there with a visit to NATO partner Turkey, which has also been targeted by Iranian missiles in the past few days.<\/p>\n<p>Read on for more on these and other stories on Thursday, March 12.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/germany-news-lufthansa-pilots-stage-another-strike\/live-76315842&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/76316716_6.jpg&#8221;] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ADEg Many Lufthansa planes will stay on the ground on Thursday and FridayImage: Heiko Becker\/REUTERS Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Pilots from\u00a0Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Cityline are staging a 48-hour strike, the second in as many months, with their union calling for pay [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1821845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1821845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1821845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1821845\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1821845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1821845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1821845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}