Passengers queue at Duesseldorf Airport during a warning strike staged by Lufthansa ground staff over 9.5 % pay claim by Germany's public sector workers union Verdi, in Duesseldorf, Germany July 27, 2022. | REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
A coordinated 24-hour strike by pilots and cabin crew at German airline Lufthansa has begun, grounding hundreds of flights and triggering travel chaos across Germany and beyond as unions press demands for higher pension contributions and job protections.
The walkout, called by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilots’ union and the Unabhängige Flugbegleiter Organisation (UFO) cabin crew union, started at 00:01 local time on Thursday and continues through 23:59, affecting all departures operated by Lufthansa’s core airline, its cargo arm and regional subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine from German hubs including Frankfurt and Munich.
The pilots’ main grievance centers on pension benefits, with VC demanding significantly higher employer contributions to occupational pension schemes after years of negotiations stalled. The union says current arrangements leave pilots with inadequate retirement security and have authorized industrial action to increase pressure on management.
Meanwhile, the UFO has joined the action over broader workplace issues and job security concerns, particularly linked to plans affecting around 800 positions at Lufthansa CityLine as part of corporate restructuring moves. Cabin crew leaders say they want binding collective agreements that protect jobs and welfare amid cost-cutting strategies by the airline.
Authorities and airport operators have warned of widespread cancellations and delays today, with many passengers advised to check flight statuses, rebook where possible or seek alternative travel arrangements. Even flights not officially cancelled may face significant delays as aircraft rotations and crew schedules are disrupted.
The strike represents one of the most disruptive industrial actions at Lufthansa in recent years and highlights deepening labour tensions within Europe’s largest airline. Lufthansa has criticised the timing and scale of the strike, calling it a disproportionate escalation and urging unions back to the negotiation table.
Travel advisers and consumer groups are warning that the disruption is likely to ripple across European and long-haul networks, as Germany’s Frankfurt and Munich hubs feed connections around the world. Airlines and travel agencies are bracing for an influx of passenger requests to reroute or reschedule bookings as the impact unfolds.
