On Thursday morning, the two‑day strike announced by the union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) began at Lufthansa. Flights operated by Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Passenger that leave German airports are being halted, and Thursday also sees disruptions to Lufthansa Cityline services. Flights to and from the Middle‑East crisis zone are not affected by the strike.
The union says the action was triggered by failed wage talks over compensation for Lufthansa Cityline crews and disputes about the pilots’ company pension plans at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo. Until 2017 pilots received a traditional company pension with guaranteed payouts, which the employer has since replaced-at its insistence-with a capital‑market‑financed scheme the union argues falls far short of the previous pension level.
According to the airline, the strike’s impact should stay limited thanks to a special flight schedule. More than half of Lufthansa’s overall flight programme is expected to run despite the stoppages. For long‑haul routes, the company projects that 60 % of flights will operate. Additionally, many flights to and from Frankfurt and Munich will be taken over by other Lufthansa Group carriers and partner airlines, and larger aircraft will be deployed on the strike days.