Germany’s United Services Union, representing Lufthansa's ground workers in the country, is demanding a 12.5% pay increase as part of collective labour negotiations set to begin with the airline this week. Talks between unions representing 25,000 ground staff across Lufthansa, Lufthansa Technik and Lufthansa Cargo will begin in Frankfurt on 18 January. The union complains that “employees are working at the limit,” amid staff shortages at the company. Meanwhile, it highlights that Lufthansa Group is making record profits. "Although remuneration was increased in 2022, an aircraft technician, for example, has 10 percent less in his pocket today than three years ago due to the price increases. That's why employees need significantly more money," says negotiator Marvin Reschinsky. Alongside the union’s demand for a large percentage increase in salary, it is insisting that all employees receive at least €500 ($547) extra per month.

Unions representing pilots at IAG airline Aer Lingus have voted overwhelmingly to reject a pay increase offer of 8.5%. A total of 98% of voting members of unions Forse and the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association opted to reject the offer, with Forse commenting that the proposal “didn't reflect the sacrifices of pilots during Covid when they took reduced pay & conditions to help the airline recover.” Forsa adds that Aer Lingus has recently announced “record profits”.

Swiss regional carrier Helvetic Airways will lease four Embraer 195s under a multi-year lease agreement with Azorra. Helvetic says the additional aircraft, configured with 122 seats, were built in 2011 and are scheduled to join its fleet at the beginning of the second quarter. The carrier notes that it added two E190s to its fleet during summer 2023. "The four completely reconfigured and modernised aircraft will ideally complement our existing fleet," states Helvetic Airways chief executive Tobias Pogorevc. "They will allow us to maintain a stable flight schedule even under the current challenging conditions and guarantee our customers a high level of reliability, planning security and, above all, punctuality." With the additional aircraft, Helvetic will have four E195-E2s, eight E190-E2s, six E190s and four E195s.