Hundreds of Lufthansa Flights Cancelled as Pilot Strike Disrupts Travel
Hundreds of flights operated by Lufthansa were cancelled on Monday after pilots began a strike over pay and pension disputes, marking the latest labor action affecting the German airline this year.
According to the company, about half of its long-haul flights and roughly two-thirds of its short-haul services were cancelled on the first day of the planned two-day strike. Pilots from Lufthansa’s CityLine and Eurowings subsidiaries also joined the industrial action, expanding the disruption across the group’s operations.
The pilots’ union, Vereinigung Cockpit, reported that more than 700 flights had been cancelled by Monday afternoon. In a statement, the union said it remained open to negotiations, provided the airline presents what it considers realistic proposals.
Tensions between the airline and its pilots have been ongoing for months. The most recent pilot strike took place in mid-March. Lufthansa had previously described the union’s demands for higher pay and improved pension terms as unrealistic and financially unviable.
Union president Andreas Pinheiro criticized the airline’s approach to negotiations, saying the company had failed to show meaningful willingness to reach an agreement despite several rounds of talks. He also noted that pilots had avoided strike action during the busy Easter travel period in hopes of encouraging progress.
The pilot strike follows separate labor action by cabin crew last Friday, when members of the UFO union staged a walkout that resulted in the cancellation of around 90 percent of Lufthansa and CityLine flights.
The ongoing disputes highlight continuing tensions between airline management and employee unions, raising concerns about further travel disruptions if an agreement is not reached soon.
