In a joint statement, they said they had also agreed that roughly 22,000 cabin crew would get a special payment of 1,500 euros (1,265.98 pounds) in their next paycheck.

A spokeswoman for Lufthansa, Germany's largest airline, said strikes would not happen at any of the group's airlines, including Germanwings and Eurowings, during the mediation period.

Industry experts expect the mediation to take about two months but the conciliation process could take much longer.

Since the autumn, Ufo has organised three short strikes, forcing Lufthansa to cancel many flights.

(Reporting by Klaus Lauer; Writing by Michelle Martin; Editing by Thomas Seythal and David Evans)