Lufthansa pilots have announced a two-day strike scheduled from April 13 to April 14, 2026, in response to unresolved pay and pension negotiations. The strike, organized by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, is expected to significantly impact operations across the Lufthansa Group, including Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa CityLine, and Eurowings.
In preparation for the strike, Lufthansa has begun canceling flights to mitigate operational disruptions. This follows a recent cabin crew strike on April 10, 2026, which resulted in the cancellation of over 900 flights and affected more than 90,000 passengers. The Independent Flight Attendants Organization initiated this earlier strike after wage talks broke down, leading to widespread travel chaos.
During the cabin crew strike, 580 flights were canceled at Frankfurt Airport and around 400 at Munich Airport, highlighting the severe impact of labor disputes on the airline’s operations. The current strike by pilots comes after 94% of Lufthansa pilots voted in favor of strike action, with an overwhelming 99% of CityLine members supporting the decision.
Andreas Pinheiro, President of VC, stated, “A strike is always the last resort to bring movement to failed negotiations. We would have been very happy to do without it – especially against the background of the strain on our passengers and our colleagues on the ground. However, the responsibility for this lies with the employer.” This sentiment underscores the frustration among pilots regarding the stalled negotiations.
On the other hand, Jens Ritter, a member of Lufthansa’s Executive Board, criticized the timing of the strike, saying, “Demanding even better working conditions and, on top of that, going on strike at a weekend with Easter return traffic, is completely incomprehensible and unacceptable.” This reflects the tension between the airline’s management and its workforce as they navigate the complexities of labor relations.
The latest strike follows a series of labor actions across the Lufthansa Group in recent months, indicating a growing unrest among employees regarding their working conditions and compensation. As the airline industry continues to recover from the pandemic, these labor disputes could pose significant challenges for Lufthansa’s operational stability.
As the strike approaches, passengers are advised to check their flight status and prepare for potential disruptions. Lufthansa’s proactive cancellations aim to minimize confusion, but the full extent of the impact remains to be seen. Details remain unconfirmed regarding how many flights will be affected during the strike period.