Lufthansa Strike Grounds Hundreds of Flights in Germany
On Thursday, Germany experienced significant disruptions in air travel due to a strike by Lufthansa pilots and flight attendants. This industrial action resulted in the cancellation of nearly 800 flights, impacting approximately 100,000 passengers.
Lufthansa Strike Impacts Flight Operations
The strike stemmed from ongoing disputes between the airline and labor unions over cost-cutting measures and employee benefits. Lufthansa’s management is working to enhance profitability amidst rising operational costs, which has led to tensions with unions representing pilots and flight attendants.
Passenger Guidance and Rebooking Options
Lufthansa advised travelers to check the status of their flights on the airline’s website before heading to airports. The airline is committed to rebooking affected passengers on alternative flights operated by its partner airlines, including:
- Swiss Air
- Austrian Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
Additionally, passengers can switch their flight bookings to train tickets with Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, at no extra charge. Normal operations are not expected to resume until Friday.
Union Demands and Responses
The strike involves about 4,800 pilots from Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo. They are advocating for better retirement benefits. Andreas Pinheiro, president of the German pilots’ union VC, stated that the strike was a last resort. He emphasized the union’s willingness to engage in negotiations and blamed the employer for the escalation.
Flight attendants, represented by the UFO union, are also partaking in a strike, particularly in response to the planned shutdown of CityLine operations and the lack of a collective social plan. This action affects around 20,000 flight attendants and was initiated without a prior vote.
Lufthansa’s Position
Michael Niggemann, head of human resources at Lufthansa, expressed that the strike was unnecessary and that the company’s financial situation does not allow for excessive union demands. He emphasized that open dialogue is essential for resolving the ongoing disputes. The airline has introduced a recovery program named “Turnaround” to restore profitability after reporting losses in 2024.
Lufthansa has faced increasing industrial challenges in recent years, highlighting a growing divide between the airline’s management and its staff unions.
