The German air traffic controllers' union has called off a strike scheduled to begin Tuesday morning. The union called off the strike after the air traffic authority said it was ready for mediation to resolve the pay dispute.

Germany's Lufthansa airline announced it is expecting a normal operation schedule Tuesday due to the strike being averted. Airlines had feared major delays had the strike taken place in the middle of Germany's busy summer travel season.

A similar planned walkout was blocked last week by a court injunction. A Frankfurt labor court Monday had upheld the union's right to strike as planned.

The union has been seeking a one-year wage deal, which would raise pay by 6.5 percent for the 6,000 employees.