Bankrupt airline Air Berlin, Germany's second-largest carrier, has called-off about 100 flights after a large number of its pilots called in sick.

Lufthansa's low cost subsidiary, Eurowings, which is renting aircraft & pilots from Air Berlin, also had to cancel flights.

Some 200 of its 1,500 pilots suddenly called in sick.

Reports in the German media have said that the airline is in a row with its pilots about the transfer of staff to a new owner.

Germany's giant services sector union Verdi expressed solidarity with the absent pilots & warned that more workers could call in sick.

"Verdi board member Christine Behle said:"All the conversations surrounding insolvent Air Berlin are always about its economic interests, never about the jobs of its more than 8,000 employees.

"The fear & anger among Air Berlin staff is escalating because the future of whole families are at stake."