12.02.2026 20:32
The German airline Lufthansa canceled 800 flights due to a 24-hour strike by pilots and cabin crew. Long queues formed at Frankfurt and Munich airports, affecting 100,000 passengers.
The German airline Lufthansa had to cancel 800 flights due to a 24-hour strike by pilots and cabin crew.
The strike, which started at 00:01 following a call from the German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) and the Independent Cabin Crew Organization (UFO), will continue until midnight.
800 FLIGHTS CANCELLED
The airline canceled 800 flights due to the strike. Life came to a standstill at Germany's most strategic transfer hubs, Frankfurt and Munich airports, affecting more than 100,000 passengers.
Of the 1,117 flights planned at Frankfurt Airport, 450 were canceled, while in Munich, 275 out of 920 flights were grounded. Long queues formed at the terminals, and many international passengers with connecting flights were stranded at the airports.
The strike action affects not only Lufthansa's main brand but also its Cityline and cargo subsidiary Cargo units. Union representatives stated that participation in the strike was high and that the action was being carried out successfully.
MANAGEMENT FOUND THE RATIO OF DEMANDS
Lufthansa's Human Resources Director Michael Niggemann criticized the timing and scope of the strikes, calling on the unions to establish a "constructive dialogue."
Reminding that the company closed the year 2024 with a loss, Niggemann stated that it was economically impossible to double the employer contribution to the retirement premium demanded by the unions, saying, "However, the solution is not to lock down the airports, but to reach a compromise at the table."
Lufthansa is coordinating additional flights through its subsidiaries Eurowings, Discover, and City Airlines, which are not part of the strike, to minimize the impact. Although the company management announced that they expect flight traffic to return to normal by Friday, the unions warned that new waves of strikes are imminent if their demands are not met.
WHAT DO PILOTS AND CABIN CREW WANT?
The German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit is seeking an increase in employer contributions to the company retirement plan for approximately 5,000 pilots. The union argues that inflation and the company's cost-cutting programs have undermined the retirement security of pilots. Pilots have been waiting for a concrete solution for months and express that the management's "blocked" attitude has made the strike inevitable.
The Independent Cabin Crew Organization is also demanding a comprehensive "social plan" and job security, especially for CityLine employees who are at risk of closure.
Cabin crews are also opposing the lowering of collective bargaining standards and the weakening of protection standards.
The unions want the rights of current employees to be protected in the face of the rapid growth of low-cost subsidiaries like Discover and City Airlines.