Lufthansa Under Pressure: Pilots and Cabin Crew Begin a Week of Staggered Strikes in Germany
Lufthansa, its cargo division, and its low-cost subsidiary are facing a week of severe operational disruptions following the start of a series of coordinated strikes by pilot and cabin crew unions. The industrial action, which began this Monday, threatens to extend over four consecutive days, impacting thousands of passengers across Europe.
Strike Schedule: From Pilots to Cabin Crew
The wave of protests kicked off on the morning of Monday, April 13, with a 48-hour walkout called by the pilots’ union, Vereinigun Cockpit (VC). This action directly affects the flagship carrier, Lufthansa Cargo, and the subsidiary Eurowings.
However, the outlook is set to worsen mid-week. The cabin crew union, UFO, announced that its members will resume strikes immediately after the pilots conclude their action. The disruption schedule has been established as follows:
- Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14: Strike by Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo pilots.
- Monday only: Eurowings pilots joined the walkout for a single day.
- Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16: Full work stoppage by UFO-represented cabin crew, ending at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.
With this timeline, the aviation group will face five days of labor conflict in a single week, considering that UFO had already carried out a previous strike last Friday.
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Massive Impact on Hubs
The effects of the strike have been felt most acutely at the Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) hubs. At Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, most European departures were canceled this Monday, leading to widespread delays.
For its part, Lufthansa has implemented contingency measures to mitigate the impact:
- Rail Replacement Services: Many domestic flights within Germany have been substituted with Deutsche Bahn rail services.
- Passenger Re-protection: The airline is attempting to operate as many flights as possible by utilizing other group carriers or partner airlines.
- Flexibility: Passengers with canceled flights can exchange their tickets for train vouchers.
Exemptions for Humanitarian and Geopolitical Reasons
In a departure from other mobilizations, the VC union has decided to exempt flights bound for the Middle East from the strike. This measure is a response to the uncertainty generated by the conflict in Iran and the wider Gulf region.
Routes to destinations such as Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, among others, remain operational to ensure connectivity within a sensitive geopolitical context.
Salary Dispute: A Conflict with No Resolution in Sight
At the heart of the dispute lie disagreements over pay conditions and pension schemes. While VC accuses Lufthansa’s management of failing to show a genuine willingness to negotiate following the Easter truce periods, the airline has characterized the demands as “unattainable.”
Lufthansa has sharply criticized the pilots’ union’s stance, pointing out that their demand to double a pension plan already deemed “excellent” is absurd and unsustainable. Conversely, VC President Andreas Pinheiro maintains that the company has adopted a hardline position, leaving the union with no alternative but to take industrial action.
This period of tension comes just days after the airline managed to reach an agreement with the Verdi union, which represents ground staff, leaving the pilot and cabin crew collectives as the only remaining focal points of active conflict.
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