Flights axed as 200 pilots call in sick

Bankrupt German airline Air Berlin has said its existence is threatened by an apparent wildcat strike after 200 pilots called in sick at short notice.

The ailing carrier was forced to cancel more than 100 flights including transatlantic connections, causing chaos at several German airports yesterday.

The airline’s chief executive, Thomas Winkelmann, accused pilots of “playing with fire” as the cancelled flights would cost the company several million euros, making it less attractive to potential buyers. “A stable operation is an essential precondition for successful negotiations,” he said.