Hundreds of flights have been cancelled across Germany as pilots at Lufthansa begin a 48-hour strike, disrupting travel at some of the country’s busiest airports. The walkout, which started shortly after midnight on Monday (April 13), affects the airline’s core brand, Lufthansa Cargo, and regional subsidiary Cityline, with further disruption expected through Tuesday.
Major hubs including Frankfurt and Munich report widespread cancellations, while the pilots union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) says hundreds of flights per day could be grounded during the strike. At Eurowings, only departures from German airports are affected on Monday, although the airline expects to operate a large portion of its schedule with support from partner carriers.
The industrial action marks the fourth wave of strikes at Lufthansa this year, following recent walkouts by cabin crew that also led to significant flight disruptions. The latest strike stems from ongoing labor disputes over pension arrangements, working conditions, and compensation, particularly at the regional subsidiary Cityline.
The pilots union has confirmed that certain routes will continue to operate despite the strike due to geopolitical tensions and humanitarian considerations. Flights to destinations including Egypt, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are exempt from the stoppages.
Union representatives say negotiations with Lufthansa have stalled after multiple rounds of talks failed to produce an agreement. “It doesn’t help if the other side only signals a willingness to talk but doesn’t want to discuss substantial improvements to the company pension scheme,” said Andreas Pinheiro, Union President.
According to the union, seven rounds of negotiations and mediation attempts have taken place without success. Talks will not resume until Lufthansa presents a “negotiable offer,” said Arne Karstens, spokesperson for the union’s collective bargaining committee.
Passengers traveling to and from Germany during the strike period are advised to check flight statuses and consider alternative arrangements, as disruptions are expected to continue until shortly before midnight on Tuesday.
