European

Tourists visiting this holiday hotspot may find it harder to book a hotel room in the future as local authorities are seeking to freeze new hotel licences in a bid to tackle tourist numbers

A European tourist hotspot that’s popular with Brits is eyeing plans to tackle overtourism, including potentially putting a freeze on the opening of new hotels.

The mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, is desperate for his city not to become too overcrowded and overwhelmed by tourists. Haris previously oversaw a ban on new permits for short-term rentals such as Airbnbs in three neighbourhoods in central Athens.

Now, he has told Euronews that he wants to avoid the city becoming like other crowded spots. He said: “We really need to see if and how many more hotels we need and where. We need to see and think about how much extra tourist load we can lift and where.

“We must not become Barcelona. We have to understand that there are saturated areas that cannot afford new beds: whether short-term rentals or not. Talking at events around the globe, we see that capping is not only being put on short-term rentals but also on hotels; in specific, ‘saturated’ areas.”

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Across the Attica region, where Athens is located, there are 68,934 rental apartments, nearly half of which are found in the city center. Across Greece, tourist demand has seen a huge increase in the amount of accommodation available, with 450 new four- and five-star hotels opening between 2019 and 2024.

Should Athens enact the ban, it would join cities including Barcelona and Amsterdam, which already have similar initiatives to tackle the issue of overtourism.

Evgenios Vassilikos, President of the Athens – Attica & Argosaronic Hotel Association – spoke at the same event. He argued that there needed to be a careful planning process when it comes to expanding the number of hotel beds and short-term rentals.

He said: “There are practices abroad which have been implemented. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The example I gave is that in Barcelona they have completely banned short-term rentals from 2028 and from 2017 onwards no new hotel licences are being issued. So there are, therefore, these restrictions abroad. We will possibly have to see in Athens what we want in terms of where we want to be in 10 to 15 years. “

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He added: “We will definitely need hotel beds there. How many will these be? How many will be five-star, how many four-star, etc. There has to be a specific plan. And of course that drags in all kinds of beds, meaning non-primary tourist accommodation and short-term rentals.”

Athens has become the most popular tourist destination in Greece with about 12 million international arrivals in 2025. This included around 4.5 million British tourists, up from 3.5 million in 2019. The Acropolis alone receives millions of visitors a year, and at peak times can see over 17,000 visitors a day.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

April 21 (UPI) — European airline Lufthansa announced Tuesday that it will chop 20,000 “unprofitable” short-haul flights through October, a move the company says will save more than 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel.

The company, which is based in Germany, said fuel costs have doubled since the start of the conflict in Iran. This follows a move last week to retire the 27-plane fleet of its CityLine subsidiary ahead of schedule, Politico reported.

Lufthansa canceled the first 120 flights, which were to take place through the end of May, on Monday and said it had alerted affected passengers.The 20,000 cancelations include the former CityLine flights and affect the airline’s hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels and Rome.

“Passengers will therefore continue to have access to the global route network, particularly long-haul connections,” Lufthansa said in its announcement. “However, due to the increase in jet fuel prices, this will be achieved significantly more efficiently than before.”

The airline said that it will post the schedule “optimizations” from June onward in late April.

Politico reported that other airlines, including SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Air France- KLM, have turned to similar measures to deal with fuel costs.

Ryanair has threatened to cancel flights to a popular EU country if border control delays do not improve, as the EU’s new Entry Exit System (EES) causes waits of up to 40 minutes at its airport

Ryanair has threatened to cancel flights to a beloved European hotspot unless lengthy queue delays are brought under control.

David O’Brien, CEO of Ryanair’s Malta subsidiary Malta Air, has put the government on notice that the airline could divert capacity away from Malta to rival Mediterranean destinations if border check hold-ups at the airport fail to improve.

“If we find ourselves with significant congestion and delay, we’d have to redirect capacity away from Malta to other destinations and that’s not something we’d like to do,” he told the Times of Malta.

The EU’s new entry/exit system (EES) has triggered significant delays at a string of busy airports, with passengers in Malta facing waits of up to 40 minutes.

Have you been caught up in EES delays? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

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The problem affects all non-EU travellers, with passengers from the UK – Malta’s biggest market – bearing the brunt of the disruption.

“Europe is utterly unprepared in a general sense. We hope Malta is prepared. We haven’t reached summer peak yet,” Mr O’Brien warned.

David Curmi, executive chairman of national carrier KM Malta, also voiced his concerns to the Times of Malta over mounting delays.

“We are unable to wait for passengers to board our aircraft. Passenger compensation regulations state that we have to compensate all passengers, including those who arrive late because of this system,” he said.

Both aviation chiefs have called for the system to be suspended to prevent delays and passengers missing their flights during the peak summer period.

It was announced yesterday that Greece has suspended EU fingerprint and facial scans for British holidaymakers. The country has chosen to abandon the new biometric security measures amid fears about queue chaos spreading across the continent. Queues have been hitting the country, with four-hour waits reported in many destinations, including Greece.

Eleni Skarveli, director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, emphasised that the decision would “ensure a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece” and would “significantly reduce waiting times” while easing congestion at airports.

A total of 122 passengers were reportedly prevented from boarding the flight from Milan Linate to Manchester on Sunday due to delays at passport desks triggered by the roll-out of the EU’s Entry Exit System (EES). The 11am departure was delayed for 59 minutes before taking off with the bulk of seats vacant.

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Under the EES, travellers are required to register their biometric information, which involves having their fingerprints scanned and photograph captured.

They must also respond to questions about their visit, such as whether they have accommodation arranged, sufficient funds for their trip and a return ticket.

All children must register, though under-12s are exempt from fingerprinting. EES is free for travellers.

Prior to its launch earlier this year, the Home Office warned travellers to anticipate “longer wait times at border control”, while Advantage Travel Partnership advised visitors to southern Europe to “allocate four hours for navigating the new system”.

The system is designed to strengthen border security by reducing illegal migration and identifying visitors who overstay. Once registered, travellers won’t need to repeat the process for three years. Any future border crossing during that timeframe will require verification of an individual’s fingerprints and photograph, which is anticipated to be faster than the initial registration.

Ryanair has been contacted for further comment.

A POPULAR holiday destination could soon lose all of its Ryanair flights – due to huge queues at the airport.

Malta is just one of the destinations in Europe that recently implemented the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) at its airport, which requires new biometric checks.

However, recent reports found that passengers were left stranded on the tarmac for 20 minutes because the queues were so long at security inside the airport building.

David O’Brien, one of Ryanair’s executive officers and the CEO of Malta Air, said: “If we find ourselves with significant congestion and delay, we’d have to redirect capacity away from Malta to other destinations and that’s not something we’d like to do.”

He has since written to Malta’s Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri to ensure border controls are fully staffed for this summer, according to The Times of Malta.

O’Brien added that “Europe is utterly unprepared in a general sense” and that while the airline has not yet experienced significant delays at Malta Airport, it is concerned about the upcoming summertime period.

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Last year, Ryanair carried more than half of total passengers to Malta and of those travelling to the country – with the UK being the biggest market.

To try and reduce the delays, Malta Airport has introduced new measures such as a specific Schengen corridor, as well as increasing the amount of immigration desks.

The airport has also transferred more airport staff to be working on the new system.

Alan Borg, CEO of Malta International Airport told The Times of Malta: “We are working hand in hand with the Malta Police Force to make sure we can do everything possible to support them in this important initiative.

“It is what it is. We need to find ways to improve the processing time over the summer period.”

EES is a new system used across 29 European countries to register non-EU nationals, which includes Brits, for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

And Malta isn’t the only airport suffering delays due to the newly implemented EES.

Last month, Travel Reporter Alice Penwill experienced three-hour queues at Lanzarote Airport.

She said: “The queues stretched along the corridor and zigzagged all the way through the arrivals hall that took passengers to EES registration.”

“I’d already signed up to EES, having visited Lithuania a few months ago – but that was no use at all.

“There was no separate queue for – or any staff for that matter – advising those who have registered to head straight to the passport e-gates.

“While this was frustrating, what was even more so was that only half of the EES machines were actually working.

“When I finally made it to my bus transfer, even the Jet2Holidays rep said she’d ‘never seen delays this bad’.”

Delays have also been reported at Brussels, Lisbon and Prague airports.

Greece has even decided to halt the system completely.

On April 18, a statement from the Greek Embassy announced that Brits are “exempt” from biometrics at all Greek border crossing points.

Eleni Skarveli, the director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in the UK, said: “The exemption of British passport holders from biometric registration at Greek border crossing points, effective from 10 April 2026, is expected to significantly reduce waiting times and ease congestion at airports.

“UK travellers will no longer need to undergo additional EES biometric procedures, ensuring a smoother and more efficient arrival experience in Greece.“

Sun Travel has contacted Malta Airport and Ryanair for comment.

In other travel news, here is the full list of 29 European countries being hit by new travel rules.

Plus, here are nine of the European airports where Brits are facing massive queues and missed flights due to new travel rules.

European stock markets slipped on Monday as investor sentiment weakened amid renewed tensions between the United States and Iran. The downturn followed the seizure of an Iranian cargo ship by US forces and Tehran’s vow of retaliation, raising fears that a fragile ceasefire nearing its expiry may collapse.

The situation has been further complicated by Iran’s rejection of fresh peace talks and ongoing uncertainty over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route.

Market Reaction

The pan-European STOXX 600 index declined by 0.8%, reflecting broad-based caution across financial markets. Major indices also moved lower, with Germany’s DAX down 1% and France’s CAC 40 falling 0.9%.

Losses were concentrated in sectors sensitive to geopolitical risk. Travel and leisure stocks led declines, followed by banking and automobile shares, which also came under pressure. In contrast, energy stocks rose as oil prices surged, reflecting concerns about supply disruptions.

Oil and Energy Impact

Crude oil prices jumped sharply, with Brent crude rising more than 5% to around $95 a barrel. The increase reflects heightened fears of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global energy trade passes.

Energy-dependent European economies remain particularly sensitive to price volatility, adding to investor caution across broader markets.

Geopolitical Tensions

Market sentiment shifted sharply from the previous week’s optimism, when easing signals from the Strait of Hormuz had briefly boosted equities. That optimism faded quickly after renewed maritime incidents and political escalation.

The United States and Iran continue to exchange accusations over ceasefire violations, while diplomatic efforts appear increasingly uncertain. The rejection of fresh negotiations by Iran and continued US pressure have added to concerns that the conflict could intensify further.

Outlook

Financial markets remain closely tied to developments in the Middle East. With the ceasefire approaching its expiration and no clear diplomatic breakthrough in sight, volatility is expected to persist.

Investors are likely to remain cautious until there is greater clarity on both maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and the future of US–Iran relations.

With information from Reuters.

British judoka Emma Reid won silver to clinch the first European Championships medal of her career.

Reid, who finished fifth in 2025, was beaten in the- 78kg final by Italy’s Alice Bellandi in Tbilisi, Georgia.

“I’m very happy with my performance, and it’s great to end the day with a medal,” said 30-year-old Reid, who won bronze at the World Championships in 2024.

“It has been a tough and busy block at the start of this year, so it’s nice to see the hard work paying off with my first European Championships medal.”

Reid won her last-16 and quarter-final contests with sankaku-gatame against Ukrainian Anna Kazakova and juji-gatame against Lithuanian Migle Julija Dudenaite respectively.

She then guaranteed herself at least silver by forcing her semi-final opponent, Slovenia’s Metka Lobnik, to submit just one minute into the contest.

A mum has shared the ‘best’ European City break to take kids on, with amazing attractions such as zoos and museums – and it’s only a two and a half hour flight away

A mum has shared the ‘best’ European City break she has ever taken with her child, and it’s not where you would expect. When it comes to parents taking children away on holiday with them, there are many things they need to think about before booking.

From how the family will travel to the destination, if they can be kept occupied while travelling and if attractions will keep them entertained for long enough, there is a lot to think about. But one woman who shares content on social media has shared the “best’ destination she has visited with her child, which kept her occupied every day.

Claire and Laura are identical twin mum’s who post UK based travel content on social media under the username @twinperspectives.

The family explained how they went to Stockholm in Sweden and were surprised at home good it was for children.

The mum said: “The best city break in the world for kids, hands down, is Stockholm. It’s pure wholesome loveliness and there is so much to do.

“Let’s start off with the Open Air Museum of Skansen, which is basically Sweden hundreds of years ago, but it is also so good for kids.

“There is a zoo. We were at the park 10 till 4pm so there is so much to do. It is so incredibly wholesome and of course plenty of sweets.

“Next up is the Vasa Museum, home to the world’s only preserved 17th century ship. There’s a great children’s trail to keep them entertained.

“This is a pretty mind-blowing museum and you have to go .Next up is the Unibacken Museum, tis is a world of immersive stories dedicated to Astrid Lindgren who wrote Pippi Longstocking.

“Make sure you take the train through the story lands, it is so detailed, my daughter loved this”

The mum then explained that families should keep an eye out for the different metro stations in Stockholm, with the city being known for its art in the metros.

The mum added that there were plenty of free things to do in the city, alongside paid for attractions.

She said: “Aside from paid activities, Stockholm’s playgrounds are another level compared to the UK. Vasa Park is the largest in the city, even comes with bikes and play accessories as well.

“Activities aside, the food is great for kids in Sweden. Obviously there’s meatballs and mashed potato and the famous fika.

“Getting around the city is super easy. All in all one of the easiest yet most exciting city breaks you can do with kids. Obviously it’s not budget friendly but I’d say the activities that are there are well worth the price tag.”

Other parents commented on the video to agree with the twins, with many sharing their own experiences of visiting Sweden.

One person said: “We have family in Sweden but I didn’t even think about revisiting Stockholm with our little ones! I know they’d love the Vasa museum and these are some great other suggestions too.”

A second said: “Ahhh, yes totally agree. The nature and play parks and museums make Sweden a great place for children and families. I’m often asked to put together itineraries for families visiting.”

Emery replaced Steven Gerrard as Villa manager in October 2022 with Villa hovering just above the relegation zone on goal difference.

The former Arsenal and Villarreal boss brought with him his own backroom staff, with many of the old guard departing.

Former Sevilla goalkeeper Monchi also joined as Villa’s president of football operations in June 2023 – having previously worked with Emery at Sevilla and winning three Europa League titles together.

Emery immediately made an impact, imposing structure, clarity and belief on a Villa side that was once again flirting with relegation to guide them to a top‑seven finish and European qualification in his first season.

The following campaign proved the progress was no fluke.

Turning Villa Park into a fortress, they established themselves as a top‑four contender during 2023-24 while also reaching the semi-finals of the Conference League, where they were beaten 6-2 on aggregate by Olympiakos.

“The first year we got here in the Conference League, a lot of us hadn’t played in Europe so when we got to the latter stages there was a lot of pressure,” Watkins said.

“Each year we’ve learned and taken something from it. And to trust the manager because he’s so experienced in this competition. He’s won it numerous times so we believe in what he tells us and keep going.”

A first taste of top-tier European competition since 1982-83 came last season when they reached the Champions League quarter-finals against Emery’s former side Paris St-Germain.

And on their way to the last eight, they posted memorable league-stage wins against Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig while also holding Juventus to a goalless draw.

And this season’s run on the continental stage further underlines their upward trajectory under the Spaniard.

“It’s an amazing achievement for us to progress to the semi-finals and to go one step further than last year in the Champions League,” Watkins said.

“We’re really enjoying being in this competition and this is where we want to be, in the semi-finals.”

Emery told TNT Sports: “I’m very happy. We were organised and tried to impose our ideas and style, which is not easy against Bologna.”

“We are so happy with the way we are performing in this competition. It was fantastic. We are in the semi-finals, but there is still work to do.”

A POPULAR European city destination is adopting a green voucher scheme that will see tourists rewarded for litter picking this summer.

The city is hoping to attract tourists who don’t mind getting their hands a bit dirty on their holiday.

Germany‘s capital, Berlin, is set to introduce the ‘BerlinPay’ scheme that will see tourists rewarded for engaging in sustainable behaviour, like supporting social projects and collecting rubbish.

Those getting involved are set to receive benefits at museums, restaurants, and Berlin experiences when the scheme gets underway this summer.

This year, the scheme is going to be centred around water tourism and, partnered with the Senate Department for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises, the model hopes to make responsible engagement around the waters visible and appreciated.

The tourism agency, Visit Berlin, has described the scheme as “an initiative that raises awareness and encourages responsible behaviour on and around Berlin’s waterways among visitors and Berliners”.

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The agency has continued: “Those who behave responsibly on and around the water, for example by collecting trash, beautifying the neighbourhood, or supporting social projects – receive recognition from participating partners: small benefits or special Berlin experiences.”

The scheme is hoping to create a virtuous circle, where people get engaged, appreciate the city, and in turn are rewarded with a positive experience that will then drive engagement up further.

Berlin is currently looking for companies and initiatives to get involved with the reward scheme this summer and is keen on partners related to “Berlin’s water world”.

The tourism agency emphasized companies involved in water sports, leisure and tourism, gastronomy, hotel industry, culture and education, mobility, and environmental and urban initiatives should apply.

This new project appears to be following in the footsteps of Denmark, which launched ‘CopenPay’ for the country’s capital back in 2024.

So far, the scheme has proved to be effective and has had positive effects in the city, as tourists are given rewards such as boat trips and free bike rentals for their sustainable behaviour.

The head of communications and behavioural research at Wonderful Copenhagen, Rikke Holm Petersen, has reiterated the benefits to both the tourists and the city.

“When people are on holiday, they are more open to new ideas, and with CopenPay we have shown that tourists are not only happy to take part but are also inspired to…take new habits home with them,” Peterson said.

A POPULAR European city is set to bring back its ‘tourist tax’ for visitors this summer.

The city became the first metropolitan area globally to charge day-trippers an admission fee, which was introduced on April 25, 2024.

Day-trippers who book last-minute trips to Venice this summer will feel the biggest sting, with reservations that are made less than four days in advance costing €10 per person.

Holidaymakers who are a bit more organised, and book their trips more than four days ahead of their planned visit, will only have to pay €5.

Entering the city before 8.30am or after 4pm exempts you from paying, as does being a current resident or a Venetian-born visitor, a student, worker, or someone in the city on an overnight stay.

When you’ve secured your QR code via the booking platform, it will be checked at one of seven entry points across Venice, which includes Santa Lucia railway station.

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However, if you do not pay the fee and are not registered for exemption, or if you fail to produce the QR code, you could be fined anywhere between €50-300.

That’s equivalent to up to £260.

The number of pay-to-enter days is increasing from 54 to 60 this year.

However, last year’s stats show visitor numbers dropped only slightly over the summer, from an average of 16,676 in 2024 to 13,046 in 2025.

The new tax is to help incentivise tourists to visit the small Italian city on weekdays, rather than during the weekend.

But it faces opposition as critics argue that it would not teach visitors ‘respect’.

Giovanni Martini, the city council member, said: “Wanting to raise this to 10 euros is absolutely useless. It makes Venice a museum.”

There are now more tourist beds in Venice than official residents, whose numbers stand at an all-time low of 50,000.

The dates the fee will be in place this year

• April: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30
• May: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31
• June: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28
• July: 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

A EUROPEAN airline is axing all flights with immediate effect.

Lufthansa‘s subsidiary airline CityLine is to cease operations due to both the Iran war and ongoing strike action.

The airline – which operates some flights to and from the UK – will be grounding 27 aircraft from April 18.

Flight routes typically connect London to both Frankfurt and Munich.

It isn’t clear how this will affect passengers just yet, as to whether they will offer alternative routes or refunds.

They said in a statement, according to local media: “As a first, immediately effective step, the 27 operational aircraft of Lufthansa CityLine will be permanently removed from the flight programme starting the day after tomorrow, in order to reduce further losses at the loss-making airline.”

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CityLine was due to cease operations by 2028, but has since decided to close this month instead.

Sun Travel has contacted Lufthansa for comment.

Lufthansa’s main airline has also announced that it will be grounding four Airbus jets and two Boeing jets for good, by the end of the summer, which are mainly used for longer flights.

Lufthansa will reduce short and medium-haul flights by five aircraft from this winter as well, while long-haul capacity will be reduced by six.

Till Streichert, chief financial officer of Lufthansa Group, also said: “The goal is to focus our short- and medium-haul platforms more clearly and make them more competitive.”

The announcement follows hundreds of flight cancellations this week following pilot strike action.

Union Vereinigung Cockpit called the strike action over pension disputes and yesterday announced that the strike action would be extended by two days.

Pilots first walked out on Monday leading to hundreds of flights being cancelled, including many from the UK.

Cabin crew also walked out yesterday and today.

Around 34 flights were cancelled to and from the UK yesterday and with an average flight usually carrying around 150 passengers each, more than 5,000 Brits could have been impacted.

When further strike action was announced, VC president Andreas Pinheiro said: “The situation remains unchanged; there is absolutely no movement on the employers’ side.

“For us, this is not about political power struggles or egos, but about sustainable solutions.”

In a statement, the airline told passengers earlier this week: “Lufthansa and Eurowings are working intensively to keep the impact on passengers as low as possible.

“We are trying to have as many flights as possible operated by other airlines within the Lufthansa Group and by partner airlines.

“However, despite these efforts, flight cancellations are unavoidable.

“Travelers who are affected by an irregularity will be informed accordingly, provided their contact details are stored in the booking.

“We ask passengers to check the status of their flight before setting out on their journey.

“We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the disproportionate and very short-notice strike announcement.”

The airline has told passengers that if their flight is cancelled, they will be able to rebook once free of charge or have their ticket refunded.

In other flight news, here’s the first look at one airline’s new onboard bunk beds which even economy passengers can book.

Plus, a major UK airline is set to hike flights by up to £360 as they warn jet fuel prices have ‘never been this high’.

A MAJOR European airline has announced even more strikes this week, set to impact thousands more Brits.

Lufthansa pilots have been on strike since Monday in a dispute over pensions, and now the Union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has announced a further two days of strikes.

Pilots began striking on Monday, with hundreds of flights cancelled including many from the UK.

And now the union has announced that pilots will also be carrying out strikes this Thursday and Friday.

Cabin crew will also walk out today and Thursday.

It means that by the end of this week, there will have been six consecutive days of strike action.

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Over 200 flights departing Frankfurt Airport have been cancelled today, including the following flights to the UK:

• 9:50am to Manchester
• 2pm to London Heathrow
• 3:45pm to Glasgow
• 4pm to London Heathrow
• 4:10pm to Edinburgh
• 4:20pm to Newcastle
• 4:45pm to Manchester
• 5pm to Birmingham
• 6pm to London Heathrow
• 9:10pm to Birmingham
• 9:30pm to London Heathrow
• 9:50pm to Edinburgh
• 10pm to Manchester

As for flights with Lufthansa departing from the UK, the following have been cancelled:

• 9:30am from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 9:50am from Glasgow to Frankfurt
• 10:25am from Birmingham to Frankfurt
• 10:35am from Manchester to Munich
• 11:25am from Manchester to Frankfurt
• 12:50pm from Edinburgh to Frankfurt
• 1:35pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 3:30pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 4:25pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 5:10pm from Edinburgh to Munich
• 5:30pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 5:30pm from Glasgow to Frankfurt
• 5:40pm from Newcastle to Frankfurt
• 5:50pm from Edinburgh to Frankfurt
• 5:50pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 5:55pm from Birmingham to Munich
• 6:15pm from Birmingham to Frankfurt
• 6:20pm from Manchester to Frankfurt
• 7:10pm from London Heathrow to Munich
• 7:30pm from London Heathrow to Frankfurt
• 8:25pm from London Heathrow to Munich

With 34 flights – often operating around 150 passengers each – this works out to more than 5,000 passengers to and from the UK affected.

Disruption to flights tomorrow currently remains unclear.

Regarding the further strike action, VC president Andreas Pinheiro said: “The situation remains unchanged; there is absolutely no movement on the employers’ side.

“For us, this is not about political power struggles or egos, but about sustainable solutions.”

In a statement, the airline told passengers earlier this week: “Lufthansa and Eurowings are working intensively to keep the impact on passengers as low as possible.

“We are trying to have as many flights as possible operated by other airlines within the Lufthansa Group and by partner airlines.

“However, despite these efforts, flight cancellations are unavoidable.

“Travelers who are affected by an irregularity will be informed accordingly, provided their contact details are stored in the booking.

“We ask passengers to check the status of their flight before setting out on their journey.

“We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the disproportionate and very short-notice strike announcement.”

The airline has told passengers that if their flight is cancelled, they will be able to rebook once free of charge or their ticket refunded.

Though, all flights to the Middle East have been excluded from the strike action due to the ongoing Iran conflict.

In other flight news, here’s the first look at one airline’s new onboard bunk beds which even economy passengers can book.

Plus, a major UK airline is set to hike flights by up to £360 as they warn jet fuel prices have ‘never been this high’.