FRANKFURT, July 10, 2008 (AFP) - Wage talks between the German trade union Verdi and Lufthansa have failed, an airline spokeswoman said Thursday, putting it at threat of a strike as summer holidays kick into gear.

Verdi was not immediately available for comment.

On Wednesday, the leading German airline had presented an improved offer that would raise wages by 4.6 percent on July 1, and by another 2.1 percent one year later.

Lufthansa workers would also get a one-time bonus equivalent to one percent of their annual salary.

Verdi sought a 9.8 percent raise for workers and a bigger share of the airline's profits.

The union has threatened to launch a wide-scale strike in the middle of summer holidays, after staging several warning strikes in the past weeks, if not agreement was reached.