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
