Thousands of Lufthansa passengers have had travel plans disrupted as pilots stage their third strike in two weeks.

At least 140 daytime short-haul flights from Munich airport were cancelled – more than had been expected.

The German carrier wants pilots to return to the negotiating table over a disputed early retirement scheme.

“September is one of the busiest months in Munich so both business passengers and holidaymakers are hit hard. The timing is extremely, extremely unpleasant for our clients,” said Thomas Kluehr, the head of Lufthansa Munich.

Lufthansa said the eight-hour strike would affect 13,500 passengers, adding that it was waiting for a counter offer from the pilots’ union.

Negotiations broke down at the end of last month.

A strike at Lufthansa’s low cost carrier Germanwings was followed by a walkout at Frankfurt airport last week.