Lufthansa Pilots Announce Two-Day Strike This Week

Lufthansa pilots, represented by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, have announced a two-day strike aimed at multiple Lufthansa group airlines. The strike will commence at 12:01 AM local time on April 13 and conclude at 11:59 PM on April 14. Members from Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Lufthansa Cargo AG, Lufthansa CityLine, and Eurowings GmbH will participate in this industrial action.

Lufthansa Strike Details

The union’s announcement, made on April 10, emphasizes that the strike will heavily disrupt flight operations, affecting over 80% of flights from major hubs Frankfurt and Munich. This disruption is expected to leave more than 50,000 passengers stranded.

Reasons for the Strike

The strike stems from unresolved wage negotiations, particularly surrounding pensions and other economic grievances. VC President Andreas Pinheiro noted a lack of serious offers from Lufthansa management, despite the union holding off on striking over the Easter holidays in hopes of meaningful discussions.

Lufthansa’s Response

• Lufthansa is actively working to minimize the impact on passengers.
• The airline plans to substitute cancelled flights with those operated by other airlines within its group.
• Due to a surge in customer inquiries, passengers may not receive timely updates.

Passengers holding tickets for flights on April 13 and 14, issued before April 11, are eligible for free rebooking on any Lufthansa Group flight between April 11 and 21. Refund requests must be submitted no later than April 13. Additionally, Lufthansa will provide train tickets via Deutsche Bahn for affected travelers unable to find alternate flights.

Implications of the Strike

This strike follows a series of travel disruptions earlier in April, when the Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation (UFO) initiated a one-day strike affecting Lufthansa and Lufthansa CityLine. Approximately 580 flights were cancelled, impacting around 72,000 passengers. UFO cited unresolved pay issues as reasons for their action, stating management’s refusal to negotiate as a major grievance.

Lufthansa expressed regret over the upcoming strike and its potential consequences for travelers, urging the union to return to the negotiating table.