Hundreds of Lufthansa planes will remain grounded on Thursday as pilots and flight attendants initiate an all-day strike. The industrial action involves members of both the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilots’ union and the UFO flight attendants’ union.
Disruptions for Passengers
The number of flights canceled remains unclear, though Lufthansa has stated that “numerous cancellations” are expected. Some flights are still scheduled to operate from larger airports, including Frankfurt and Berlin.
Lufthansa is advising passengers to check the status of their flights before traveling to the airport. Affected passengers may be rebooked on flights with other airlines within the Lufthansa group or its partners. Alternatively, Lufthansa is offering to change flight bookings into train tickets with Deutsche Bahn at no extra cost.
Why Are Unions Striking?
Approximately 4,800 pilots at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo are seeking increased contributions to their retirement benefits. A majority of VC members voted in favor of striking last year. VC President Andreas Pinheiro stated, “we would very much have liked to avoid an escalation,” and placed blame for the strike on Lufthansa’s management.
Separately, the UFO union is calling on its 20,000 members at Lufthansa’s CityLine to strike over the planned closure of flight operations and what the union describes as the “employer’s continued refusal to negotiate a collective social plan.” This strike is occurring without a prior vote by UFO members.
Talks between the unions and Lufthansa have been ongoing but have not yielded a resolution.
Lufthansa’s Response
Lufthansa’s head of human resources, Michael Niggermann, called the strike an “unnecessary escalation,” arguing that union demands are excessive and that negotiations are the only path to resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is causing the Lufthansa strike?
The strike is the result of disputes between Lufthansa and its unions over pension benefits for pilots and the planned shutdown of Lufthansa CityLine and related social plans for flight attendants.
How will the strike affect passengers?
Passengers should expect numerous flight cancellations on Thursday. Lufthansa is offering rebooking options on other airlines or train travel with Deutsche Bahn where possible.
When is Lufthansa expecting flights to return to normal?
Lufthansa does not expect flights to return to normal until Friday.
As Lufthansa navigates these labor disputes and financial pressures, what impact will this disruption have on passenger trust and future travel plans?
