Pilots at Lufthansa and Lufthansa CityLine are set to stage a 48-hour strike from March 12 to March 13 after the German pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit called the action amid an ongoing dispute over pilot pensions, a move expected to disrupt hundreds of flights across Germany and Europe.
The strike is scheduled to begin at 00:01 on Thursday and run until 23:59 on Friday, affecting operations at the airline’s main German hubs and other airports served by the carrier.
The industrial action escalates a broader labor dispute between the union and Lufthansa over retirement benefits and working conditions. Lufthansa said it plans to operate a majority of its scheduled services during the strike period, but acknowledged that hundreds of flights could still be canceled or delayed as pilots participate in the walkout.
Hundreds of Flights Expected to Be Disrupted
The strike covers pilots at Lufthansa Passenger Airlines and Lufthansa Cargo, while Lufthansa CityLine pilots are expected to participate mainly on the first day of the strike. More than 5,000 pilots could take part in the industrial action, according to union figures.
The disruption is expected to affect major Lufthansa hubs including Frankfurt and Munich, as well as regional routes across Germany and Europe. The airline said it will attempt to maintain more than half of its scheduled flights during the two-day strike.
Long-haul services are expected to see fewer cancellations compared with short- and medium-haul routes, as the airline prioritizes intercontinental operations. Lufthansa said around 60 percent of long-haul flights are expected to operate during the strike period.
Cargo operations are also expected to continue largely unaffected, although some schedule adjustments may occur depending on pilot availability.
The strike could result in around 300 flight cancellations per day, according to industry estimates, with thousands of passengers facing delays or travel disruptions across the airline’s network.
Union and Airline Dispute Over Pension Terms
The walkout follows stalled negotiations between Lufthansa management and the Vereinigung Cockpit pilots’ union regarding pension arrangements. The union argues that the airline has not presented an acceptable proposal to address concerns about retirement benefits for pilots.
Lufthansa has criticized the strike call and said the industrial action is difficult to understand given the operational challenges currently facing the airline industry.
The airline said it will publish updated flight schedules and inform passengers of cancellations or changes ahead of the strike period. Travelers affected by the disruptions may be rebooked on alternative flights where possible.
Several airlines within the Lufthansa Group are not part of the strike action. Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Eurowings, Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss and Lufthansa City Airlines are expected to operate normally during the period.
The pilots’ union has also announced exemptions for flights to certain Middle Eastern destinations due to the current security situation in the region. As a result, flights to destinations including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan are expected to operate despite the strike.
The planned walkout follows a previous pilot strike earlier in 2026 that forced Lufthansa to cancel around 800 flights and disrupted travel for approximately 100,000 passengers. The two-day strike scheduled for March 12–13 represents an escalation in the ongoing labor dispute between the airline and its pilot workforce.
