Air TransportLufthansa pilots began a 48-hour strike after their union, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), called for a walkout amid a long-running dispute with the airline over pensions and working conditions.
The strike involves more than 5,000 pilots from Lufthansa’s mainline passenger operation, Lufthansa Cargo and regional unit Lufthansa Cityline. According to the union, the action will affect flights departing from German airports.
Lufthansa said it was working to publish a revised flight schedule and warned that the disruption could affect passengers across its network. The airline also launched an internal call for volunteer crews in an attempt to maintain a minimum level of operations.
Subsidiaries Discover Airlines and Lufthansa City Airlines, whose pilots are not part of the strike, are expected to operate their scheduled flights and may add extra services where possible.
Lufthansa criticized the industrial action, calling it unnecessary escalation during a period of geopolitical instability affecting global aviation.
“This escalation is completely incomprehensible, especially at a time when we are experiencing a new level of geopolitical uncertainty with the war in Iran and passengers worldwide are being affected,” said Lufthansa board member Michael Niggemann.
The pilots’ union said the strike followed a lack of progress in negotiations over company pension schemes and working conditions. The walkout exempts flights to certain Middle Eastern destinations in light of the current security situation in the region.
During the last strike organized by Vereinigung Cockpit about a month ago, more than 800 flights were canceled in a single day.
