Looming Pilot, Cabin Crew Strike to Affect Lufthansa

‍FRANKFURT — Lufthansa (LH) pilots’ and cabin crew unions announced a strike on Thursday, February 12, affecting the airline's passenger and cargo operations in all German airports.

Vereinigung Cockpit union will strike over a pension benefits dispute affecting Lufthansa passenger and cargo flights. Pilots are demanding better retirement benefits, while LH is aiming to cut costs to better manage its debt.

As part of cost-cutting measures, LH announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs by 2030 and replace staff with artificial intelligence (AI).  Following walkouts, aircraft delivery delays, and rising costs, LH’s profitability has fallen behind its leading European competitors. 

Union members would want to avoid escalation after a strike ballot was held in September 2025 over the pension benefits dispute. “We deliberately gave Lufthansa several months to come up with a solution,” said Andreas Pinheiro, president of the union.

“The industrial action affects all flights departing from German airports between 00:01 and 23:59 local time,” says the pilots’ union statement.

Cabin Crew Union UFO on Strike

The UFO union called on Lufthansa CityLine staff to strike alsot tomorrow “in view of the publicly announced closure of Lufthansa CityLine’s flight operations and the employer’s continued refusal to negotiate a collective social plan.”

One year ago, the airline announced the closure of Lufthansa CityLines and the transfer of operations to its new subsidiary, Lufthansa City Airlines.