Lufthansa Pilots to Strike for Two Days Over Pay and Pension Disputes Frankfurt, April 11, 2026 Lufthansa pilots will stage a 48-hour strike starting Monday, disrupting flights across the airline’s network after negotiations over pay and pension provisions collapsed.
## Strike Details and Affected Operations The strike, called by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, will begin at 00:01 on Monday and continue until 23:59 on Tuesday, affecting Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Cityline, and Eurowings flights. All Eurowings flights departing from German airports during the strike period will be grounded, while select Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cityline flights to Middle Eastern destinations will operate as scheduled.
The union cited the lack of progress in resolving multiple tariff conflicts, including disputes over remuneration and occupational pension schemes. Andreas Pinheiro, VC president, stated: *"Die Vereinigung Cockpit sieht sich zu diesem Schritt gezwungen, nachdem die Arbeitgeberseite in mehreren Tarifkonflikten keinen erkennbaren Willen zu einer Lösung zeigt"* ("The Vereinigung Cockpit is forced to take this step after the employer side has shown no recognizable willingness to find a solution in several tariff conflicts").
## Negotiations and Union Demands The VC union emphasized that it remains open to negotiations but criticized Lufthansa’s subsidiaries for failing to present viable offers. At Lufthansa Cityline, no acceptable proposal for a new remuneration tariff agreement has been made, while Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo have not offered any occupational pension provisions. Eurowings’ proposed pension scheme was deemed "unacceptable and at a very low level" by the union.
Pinheiro reiterated the union’s frustration, repeating the earlier quote verbatim in German to underscore the lack of employer engagement. The strike follows months of stalled talks, with the union accusing management of refusing to address core demands.
## Impact and Exemptions Passengers face widespread disruptions, with Eurowings flights from Germany entirely suspended and most Lufthansa Group flights canceled. However, flights to certain Middle Eastern destinations will continue unaffected, though the airline has not specified which routes.
The strike marks one of the most significant labor actions against Lufthansa in recent years, reflecting growing tensions over pay and benefits amid rising operational costs. The VC union has not ruled out further strikes if negotiations remain deadlocked.
## Next Steps With no immediate resolution in sight, Lufthansa passengers are advised to check flight statuses and consider alternative arrangements. The union’s willingness to return to the negotiating table hinges on what it calls "a serious offer" from management. For now, the 48-hour stoppage stands as a stark warning to the airline group.