Hundreds of Lufthansa Flights Grounded Amid Germany Strike
On Thursday, hundreds of Lufthansa flights were grounded due to a widespread strike involving both pilots and flight attendants. This industrial action impacted nearly 800 flights and disrupted the travel plans of around 100,000 passengers.
Background of the Strike
The strike reflects ongoing conflicts between Lufthansa and various labor unions amid the airline’s attempts to reduce costs and enhance profitability. Tensions have escalated as unions seek better retirement benefits for their members.
Flight Cancellations and Passenger Guidance
- Approximately 800 flights were canceled due to the strike.
- About 100,000 passengers were affected.
- Lufthansa advises travelers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport.
Additionally, the airline is prioritizing rebooking options for affected passengers with its partner carriers, which include Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines. Lufthansa is also offering the possibility to change flight bookings into train tickets via Deutsche Bahn without extra fees.
Union Demands and Statements
The strike stems from demands made by around 4,800 pilots from Lufthansa and its affiliate, Lufthansa Cargo. They aim to pressure management into raising their retirement contributions. The German pilots’ union, VC, reported a significant majority of its members voted in favor of the strike last year.
Andreas Pinheiro, the union’s president, emphasized that efforts to avoid escalation were sincere. He attributed the need for a strike to the employer’s failure to negotiate. Separately, the UFO union representing flight attendants has called for strikes at Lufthansa’s short-haul carrier, CityLine, highlighting issues related to operational shutdowns and the lack of a collective social plan.
Company Response
Lufthansa’s human resources head, Michael Niggemann, described the strike as “completely unnecessary” and characterized the union’s demands as excessive. He reiterated that the airline is currently facing financial difficulties, having recorded losses in 2024, which prompted a recovery initiative named “Turnaround.”
As discussions between the unions and Lufthansa remain sporadic and unproductive, the grounding of flights raises questions about the potential for future disruptions in the airline’s operations.
