Germany's flagship carrier Lufthansa, along with Lufthansa Cargo and Eurowings, faced a series of 48-hour strikes starting Monday, involving pilots and cabin crews across major hubs. The strike, stemming from unresolved negotiations over pay and pension schemes, led to hundreds of flight cancellations, especially at Frankfurt and Munich airports. These disruptions are part of ongoing industrial actions involving unions Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and UFO, with further strikes scheduled later in the week.
The unions have demanded improved wages and working conditions, with the pilots' union calling for significant pension benefits. Lufthansa has criticized the demands as excessive and unfeasible, while emphasizing efforts to mitigate the impact by rerouting flights via partner airlines and offering rail alternatives. The strike is the latest in a series of labor actions affecting the airline industry in Germany this year.
Middle Eastern flights are exempt from the strike, due to regional conflicts in Iran and the Gulf, according to union statements. The ongoing disputes illustrate broader tensions between airline management and unions over labour conditions, with negotiations expected to continue in the coming days. The disruptions have prompted travelers to verify their flight status and seek alternative transportation options where possible.
