Lufthansa Pilots to Strike Again for Two More Days Pilots at Germany’s flagship airline Lufthansa have announced plans to strike for two additional days, escalating a labor dispute that has already disrupted air travel across the country. The strike, set to begin on Thursday and Friday, follows a 48-hour walkout on Monday and Tuesday that canceled hundreds of flights, with Frankfurt and Munich airports bearing the brunt of the disruption. The airline is also facing a separate work stoppage by cabin crew on Wednesday and Thursday, marking the fourth strike of 2026 and the first major labor action in the airline’s history. By the end of the week, Lufthansa will have experienced six consecutive days of strike-related disruptions, significantly impacting its operations. The pilots’ union, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), has remained firm in its demands, with union president Andreas Pinheiro stating that the airline has not made any progress on key issues. In a press release issued on Tuesday, Pinheiro emphasized that Lufthansa and its subsidiaries—Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa CityLine, and Eurowings—have yet to present viable offers regarding the company pension plan or a new collective wage agreement. Pinheiro called for arbitration to resolve the dispute, signaling that the union is unwilling to compromise on its demands. The union’s stance has been consistent, with Pinheiro noting that the strike over the past two days did not alter the airline’s position. The strike has already caused widespread chaos, with around 900 flights canceled at Germany’s two busiest airports, Frankfurt and Munich. The disruption has been particularly severe during the current strike, with the airline’s operations grinding to a halt.#chancellor_friedrich_merz #andreas_pinheiro #lufthansa #vereinigung_cockpit #frankfurt_airport
Lufthansa Pilots Launch Fourth Strike This Year, Hundreds of Flights Cancelled Pilots at Germany’s flagship airline Lufthansa and its low-cost subsidiary Eurowings began a 48-hour strike on April 13, 2026, marking the fourth such action this year. The walkout, organized by the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), led to widespread flight cancellations, disrupting travel for tens of thousands of passengers. Major hubs like Frankfurt and Munich were particularly affected, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed. The strike also impacted Lufthansa Cargo and regional subsidiary Cityline, as pilots across the airline’s operations participated in the protest. The strike followed a week of similar actions by the UFO cabin crew union, which had previously called for a walkout. Lufthansa expressed frustration with the ongoing disputes, accusing the VC union of making unrealistic demands. The airline criticized the union’s push to double an already generous pension plan, calling it “absurd and unfulfillable.” Meanwhile, the union blamed Lufthansa for failing to negotiate in good faith, citing a lack of serious offers from the employer despite repeated attempts to resolve disputes. The strike’s impact was evident at Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, where the majority of Lufthansa departures within Europe were canceled. Passengers were advised to check with their providers for updates, as the airline attempted to mitigate disruptions by rerouting flights through partner airlines within the Lufthansa Group. Some domestic German flights were replaced with rail services, though the majority of cancellations occurred on Lufthansa-operated routes. Munich Airport, the second busiest in Germany, also warned of severe disruptions, urging passengers to contact their airlines for the latest information.#lufthansa #eurowings #vereinigung_cockpit #frankfurt_airport #munich_airport
Hundreds of Flights Cancelled as Lufthansa Pilots Go on Strike Again A pilots’ strike at Lufthansa and its low-cost subsidiary Eurowings led to hundreds of flight cancellations on April 13, 2026, disrupting travel for tens of thousands of passengers. The strike, organized by the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit, targeted Lufthansa’s core brand, regional subsidiary Cityline, and affected operations at Germany’s largest airport, Frankfurt. The walkout, which spanned two days, intensified tensions between the airline and the union over a contentious pension scheme for pilots. The union demanded that Lufthansa significantly increase its contributions to the pension plan, arguing that current payouts were insufficient to ensure long-term financial security for its members. Lufthansa, however, has resisted these demands, leading to a breakdown in negotiations. The dispute has now escalated into a full-scale strike, with pilots refusing to work during the affected period. At Frankfurt Airport, the strike’s impact was immediate. Over 570 takeoffs and landings, primarily operated by Lufthansa, were cancelled, leaving more than 50,000 passengers stranded. The airport, which serves as a major hub for international travel, saw widespread disruptions as flights to and from Europe, North America, and Asia were suspended. Meanwhile, Munich Airport reported a combined 720 cancellations over the two-day period, with most affected flights being connections operated by Lufthansa. Lufthansa’s own data revealed that two-thirds of its short and medium-haul flights, along with half of its long-haul routes, were cancelled. The airline’s unaffected units, such as Discover and City Airlines, managed to operate some services, but the overall impact on its network was severe.#lufthansa #eurowings #vereinigung_cockpit #frankfurt_airport #munich_airport
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
Lufthansa Strike: Hundreds of Flights Cancelled Across Germany and Passengers Stranded Tens of thousands of passengers across Germany faced severe travel disruptions on Friday as cabin crew at Lufthansa and its regional subsidiary, Lufthansa CityLine, participated in a day-long strike organized by the UFO union. The industrial action, which began at midnight and lasted until 10pm local time (8pm GMT), led to widespread flight cancellations and stranded travelers at major airports. Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport reported approximately 580 flight cancellations by Friday morning, affecting around 72,000 passengers. These figures, which included all airlines operating at Frankfurt, were expected to rise as the day progressed. The strike also significantly impacted Munich, another key Lufthansa hub, while CityLine cabin crew walked out at nine airports nationwide. The strike marked a sharp contrast to developments at Lufthansa City Airlines, the group’s newest subsidiary, where the rival union Verdi secured the carrier’s first collective wage agreement. The deal, reached after marathon negotiations last week, will increase basic salaries for 500 cockpit and cabin staff by between 20 and 35 percent in three stages through March 2029. Additional benefits include extra days off, more vacation time, improved roster planning, and expanded pension support, according to Verdi. This labor agreement highlights the diverging fortunes of Lufthansa’s subsidiaries, reflecting broader restructuring efforts within the airline group. Lufthansa brand chief Jens Ritter criticized the strike as “completely disproportionate,” emphasizing the negative impact on passengers and the airline’s operations. However, UFO negotiators argued that “escalation was inevitable given stalled talks” between the union and management.#lufthansa_cityline #lufthansa #fraport #ufo #verdi
Pilots' Union at Lufthansa Calls for Strikes on April 13 and 14 Pilots at Lufthansa, along with its subsidiaries Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa CityLine, and Eurowings, are set to participate in a two-day strike beginning on April 13 and ending on April 14. The action, organized by the pilots’ union VC, follows a dispute over pension benefits, with the union accusing Lufthansa of failing to offer a satisfactory resolution. The strike will cover flights operated by the affected airlines but will exclude routes to several Middle Eastern countries, including Azerbaijan, Egypt, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The union’s decision to call the strike comes after multiple failed attempts to reach a compromise during collective bargaining negotiations. VC President Andreas Pinheiro stated that the company’s lack of willingness to address the pilots’ demands has forced the union to take this step. Pinheiro emphasized that the pilots had deliberately avoided strike action during the Easter holiday period, hoping for a resolution, but noted that no meaningful offers had been made by Lufthansa. Lufthansa responded to the strike announcement by condemning the union’s actions as an “escalation” and criticized the demand to “double an already above-average and excellent company pension scheme” as “absurd and unachievable.” The airline’s statement highlighted its commitment to maintaining operational stability while addressing the pilots’ concerns. The strike is expected to disrupt air travel during the specified dates, with affected routes experiencing potential cancellations or delays. The union’s call for action underscores the ongoing tensions between Lufthansa and its workforce over pension reforms, a critical issue in the aviation industry.#lufthansa_cargo #lufthansa_cityline #lufthansa #eurowings #vc
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
