Berlin/Frankfurt: Hundreds of Lufthansa flights were cancelled on Thursday after pilots and flight attendants staged a strike, disrupting travel across Germany and beyond at the country’s largest airline.
Lufthansa said the industrial action had resulted in “extensive cancellations,” though it did not immediately specify the total number of affected flights or passengers. The German airport association ADV estimated that more than 460 flights would be grounded, impacting nearly 70,000 passengers.
Flight information boards at Frankfurt and Munich airports, Lufthansa’s main hubs, showed widespread cancellations throughout the day, including numerous long-haul international services.
The airline said it was working to rebook passengers on other Lufthansa Group carriers and partner airlines, with plans to resume normal operations on Friday.
Unions Press for Better Terms
The strike has been organised by the pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and the cabin crew union UFO. The walkout comes at a critical time, coinciding with the opening of the Berlinale film festival in Berlin and ahead of the Munich Security Conference, which begins Friday and draws global political and security leaders.
Pilots are locked in a dispute with Lufthansa’s core airline and cargo division over pension arrangements. Union members voted in favour of strike action last year, demanding improved retirement benefits. Although negotiations resumed, talks have been sporadic and have yet to produce an agreement.
Lufthansa has maintained that its flagship brand is facing financial pressure and has little room to accommodate additional cost burdens, previously referring to the core airline as a “problem child” in need of restructuring.
In a separate dispute, the UFO union called on flight attendants at Lufthansa CityLine to join the strike, protesting the planned closure of its flight operations and what it described as the company’s refusal to negotiate a social compensation plan.
The latest disruption underscores Lufthansa’s ongoing struggle to balance cost control with labour demands, as Europe’s aviation sector continues to navigate post-pandemic restructuring challenges.
