Lufthansa Pilots Initiate Two-Day Strike, Cabin Crew Set to Join

Flight disruptions have escalated as pilots affiliated with the Vereinigung Cockpit union began a 48-hour strike on Monday, affecting hundreds of departures. The strike, marking the fourth in 2026, has prompted the UFO cabin crew union to announce its own walkout, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. This follows a recent call to action by the UFO union, which highlighted ongoing tensions with Lufthansa. Major hubs like Frankfurt and Munich experienced the most significant cancellations, with the airline’s operations severely impacted.

The strike, which involves Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, and Eurowings, has led to widespread delays and cancellations. While Lufthansa and Eurowings pilots are striking only on Monday, the Cockpit union’s members will remain on strike for two days. Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, reported most of its Lufthansa flights within Europe as canceled, with some domestic routes replaced by rail services. Munich Airport similarly listed only scheduled flights, but warned passengers about potential disruptions.

Eurowings pilots, however, are not participating on Tuesday, as the strike at its subsidiary is limited to Monday. Lufthansa noted that not all pilots across its network are part of the Vereinigung Cockpit, and full participation in the strike is uncertain. The union’s decision to exclude flights to certain Middle Eastern destinations, such as Azerbaijan, Bahrain, and the UAE, was attributed to travel uncertainty caused by regional conflicts.

“As a result of the strikes by Vereinigung Cockpit, Lufthansa flights at Frankfurt Airport will face delays and cancellations throughout April 13 and 14,” stated the airport’s homepage.

Lufthansa has taken steps to minimize the impact, redirecting some flights to partner airlines and other carriers within the Lufthansa Group. Passengers affected by complete cancellations were advised to exchange tickets for Deutsche Bahn rail services. The strike centers on pay disputes, including the company’s pension plan and compensation for regional operations like CityLine.

“Vereinigung Cockpit feels compelled to take this action due to the airline’s lack of willingness to resolve several wage-related issues,” said Andreas Pinheiro, the union’s president. “Despite holding back from strike activity during the Easter holidays, serious offers from Lufthansa have yet to materialize.”

Lufthansa criticized the Vereinigung Cockpit’s decision, stating that its demand to double an already generous pension scheme is “absurd and unfulfillable.” The airline had recently reached an agreement with the Verdi union for ground staff and pilots, yet negotiations with specialized unions like VC and UFO have deteriorated into repeated strikes.

The strike has created a domino effect, with the potential for four consecutive days of operational challenges. As tensions persist, both unions continue to push for better terms, while the airline seeks to maintain service continuity amid the disruptions.