Germany: Lufthansa Pilots’ Union Announces Two-Day Strike

Lufthansa pilots are preparing to participate in a two-day work stoppage, according to the pilot’s trade union. The decision to halt operations comes after the union claimed the airline exhibited “no clear eagerness to find a resolution” during ongoing labor negotiations. The strike is scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Monday (22:01 UTC Sunday) and conclude at 23:59 p.m. on Tuesday.

The strike encompasses flights operated by Lufthansa Cargo, Cityline, and Eurowings. Union President Andreas Pinheiro emphasized that the move was necessary after the airline showed “no substantial inclination to resolve disputes” in collective bargaining talks. He noted that despite avoiding action during the Easter holiday period, employers failed to provide meaningful proposals or demonstrate readiness to discuss terms.

“The Cockpit Union feels compelled to take this step after the employers showed no discernible willingness to reach a solution in several collective bargaining disputes,” the organization stated.

Earlier in the week, Lufthansa’s cabin crew had already paused operations following a one-day strike called by the UFO union. This action affected flights at the carrier’s main hubs in Munich and Frankfurt, as well as airports in Leipzig/Halle, Berlin, and Stuttgart. In Frankfurt, nearly 75% of the 350 planned departures were canceled, underscoring the potential disruption to the airline’s services.