Lufthansa faces nationwide disruption on Thursday as pilots and cabin crew announce 24-hour strike

Walkout expected to impact passenger and cargo operations across Germany

Lufthansa passengers are being warned to expect widespread disruption and cancellations on Thursday, after pilots and cabin crew unions announced a coordinated 24-hour strike amid ongoing labour disputes with Germany’s flagship carrier.

The strike call was issued by Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), which represents Lufthansa pilots, and UFO, the union representing flight attendants at Lufthansa CityLine. The industrial action is expected to affect all German airports, including the airline’s main hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, with cargo operations also likely to be disrupted.

Pension dispute and restructuring tensions

VC president Andreas Pinheiro said pilots had hoped to avoid an escalation but felt left with no alternative after months of stalled talks. Union members had already voted in favour of strike action in a ballot held at the end of September.

“We deliberately gave Lufthansa several months to come up with a solution,” Pinheiro said, referring to the union’s demand for more generous pension benefits.

At the same time, UFO has called on its members at Lufthansa CityLine to strike over the airline’s planned shutdown of CityLine operations and what the union describes as the employer’s refusal to negotiate a collective social plan. Lufthansa announced a year ago that CityLine would be closed, with operations and staff transferred to a newly created subsidiary.

Passengers urged to prepare for cancellations

The strike is expected to cause significant disruption to domestic and international flights, with knock-on effects throughout Lufthansa’s network. Passengers travelling on Thursday are advised to monitor their flight status closely and expect possible cancellations or rebookings.

Cost pressures weigh on the airline

The labour action comes as Lufthansa continues to grapple with financial and operational pressures. In its latest earnings report, the group posted a 20% drop in earnings in 2024, underperforming several major European rivals.

The airline has repeatedly stressed the need for cost-cutting measures to manage its debt burden. Over the past year, Lufthansa announced plans to cut 4,000 jobs, representing nearly 4% of its workforce, while also contending with aircraft delivery delays, rising costs and recurring labour unrest.

Thursday’s strike adds to a growing list of challenges for the group, further testing its resilience amid restructuring and heightened competition in the European aviation market.