Lufthansa Pilots Announce 2-Day Strike Over Salary, Affecting Over 1 Lakh Passengers Lufthansa pilots have initiated a two-day strike beginning on April 13, citing disputes over pension benefits and working conditions. The walkout, led by pilot unions, is expected to disrupt air travel across Europe, with hundreds of flights canceled and over 100,000 passengers impacted. Major hubs such as Frankfurt and Munich have reported long queues and last-minute rescheduling, prompting the airline to advise travelers to monitor flight statuses closely and avoid airport visits unless necessary. The strike, which spans from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm on the two consecutive days, has led to the cancellation of approximately 800 flights, affecting both domestic and international routes. While the union clarified that flights to certain Middle Eastern destinations—such as Azerbaijan, Egypt, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—will remain operational, disruptions are anticipated at key European airports. Passengers traveling during peak periods have faced significant uncertainty, with many forced to adjust plans at short notice. The pilots’ demands center on improved retirement benefits and concerns over Lufthansa’s pension scheme. Union representatives highlighted that the post-pandemic surge in air travel has placed additional strain on pilots, who have remained underpaid despite the industry’s recovery. The Cockpit Union emphasized that the strike was a last resort after negotiations with the airline failed to yield meaningful progress. Union President Andreas Pinheiro stated that the company showed no willingness to engage in serious discussions during collective bargaining disputes, even after the Easter holiday period, when no offers were made.#pilots #munich #frankfurt #lufthansa #cockpit_union
Germany: Lufthansa Pilots' Union Calls for Two-Day Strike Lufthansa pilots are preparing to embark on a two-day strike scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, as announced by the pilot’s trade union on Saturday. The strike, which includes Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Cityline, and Eurowings, is set to begin at 12:01 am on Monday (22:01 UTC on Sunday) and conclude at 23:59 pm on Tuesday. The decision follows a recent one-day strike by Lufthansa cabin crew, which disrupted thousands of passengers and prompted the airline to cancel hundreds of flights. The pilot’s union, the Cockpit Union, cited a lack of willingness from Lufthansa management to resolve ongoing collective bargaining disputes as the primary reason for the strike. Union President Andreas Pinheiro emphasized that despite the company’s decision not to take strike action during the Easter holidays, no serious offers were made to address the workers’ demands. “During this period, there was neither a response nor any discernible willingness to engage in talks on the part of the employers,” Pinheiro stated. The union’s call to action underscores the deepening tensions between the airline and its workforce over unresolved labor issues. The strike follows a similar disruption by Lufthansa’s cabin crew, who walked out for a single day starting at 10:00 pm on Friday. This walkout led to widespread flight cancellations, particularly at Lufthansa’s major hubs in Munich and Frankfurt, as well as other key airports such as Leipzig/Halle, Berlin, and Stuttgart. At Frankfurt’s largest operation, nearly 75% of the 350 scheduled departures were canceled, significantly impacting passenger travel. The airline had to cancel flights in advance to mitigate the effects of the strike, highlighting the operational challenges posed by labor disputes.#lufthansa #cockpit_union #andreas_pinheiro #lufthansa_cargo #lufthansa_cityline
