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
German Pilots’ Union Demands Two-Day Lufthansa Strike Amid Wage Disputes The German commercial pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has announced a two-day strike at Lufthansa Group airlines, set to disrupt flights from Frankfurt and Munich on Monday and Tuesday, April 13 and 14, 2026. The strike, which was called with less than two days’ notice, affects pilots at Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Lufthansa Cargo AG, Lufthansa CityLine, and Eurowings GmbH flights departing German airports during the strike period. The union claims the action is a response to Lufthansa’s refusal to resolve longstanding wage disputes, including pension-related grievances. The strike is expected to jeopardize at least 80% of flights from Frankfurt and Munich, potentially leaving over 50,000 travelers stranded. Air Traveler Club reported that the disruption could cause significant delays and cancellations, with affected passengers facing uncertainty until the strike concludes. VC President Andreas Pinheiro criticized Lufthansa’s lack of engagement, stating that the airline had not made any serious offers to address the union’s demands despite previous attempts to avoid strike action during the Easter holiday period. “The employers always have the opportunity to avert the strike by submitting negotiable offers,” Pinheiro said, emphasizing the union’s frustration with the airline’s inaction. Lufthansa responded by pledging to minimize the impact on passengers, though it acknowledged the challenges of rebooking flights at short notice. The airline stated it would replace canceled flights with services operated by other Lufthansa Group airlines or partner carriers.#andreas_pinheiro #german_pilots_union #lufthansa_group #vereinigung_cockpit #lufthansa_cargo_ag
