COLOGNE/DUESSELDORF (Reuters) - Hundreds of flights were cancelled after cabin crew members at Eurowings and Germanwings, the budget units of Lufthansa, went on strike on Thursday (Oct 27).

The strike was in protest over pay and conditions.

"We normally run 550 flights per day," said Eurowings spokesman Matthias Eberle. "Today we must expect that about 400 flights will not be able to take off."

Around 40,000 passengers were estimated to be affected, he added.

The strike hit Duesseldorf, Cologne, Dortmund, Stuttgart, Berlin and Hanover.

One union has warned of further strikes in the upcoming week.

The airline has seen a series of strikes from cabin crews and pilots in recent years.