BERLIN — A coordinated 24-hour strike by two major labor unions brought Lufthansa’s operations to a near standstill on Thursday, triggering massive flight cancelations across Germany’s flagship carrier. The industrial action, organized by pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit and cabin crew union UFO, represents one of the most significant labor disruptions in recent European aviation history.
The walkouts, announced just 48 hours prior to execution, created operational chaos at Lufthansa’s key hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. Departure boards at Frankfurt Airport, the airline’s primary hub, displayed extensive cancelations throughout Thursday morning, with the majority of scheduled flights failing to operate. While the airline declined to provide specific figures regarding affected passengers, the scale of disruption suggested thousands of travelers faced itinerary changes.
Vereinigung Cockpit initiated its strike action in response to stalled negotiations concerning pension system reforms for pilots at both Lufthansa and its cargo division. Simultaneously, UFO called for industrial action demanding renewed negotiations on multiple workplace issues affecting cabin crew members.
Lufthansa management condemned the strikes as “disproportionate” given the ongoing negotiation processes. The airline activated its contingency plans, attempting to rebook stranded passengers onto alternative flights operated by partner carriers within the Lufthansa Group network, including Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines.
Despite Thursday’s widespread disruptions, Lufthansa projected a rapid return to normal operations, announcing expectations for a largely standard flight schedule by Friday. The resolution of these labor disputes remains critical for Europe’s largest airline group as it navigates post-pandemic recovery challenges amid rising operational costs and competitive pressures.