Updated on 12 March at 10.00 am
The management of Lufthansa had barely had time to savour the announcement of record results for 2025Vereinigung Cockpit brings the company back down to earth. Literally. Following the example of the strikes launched this week in Belgium and Italy, the German union has also called a strike. Business travellers are likely to suffer the consequences on 12 and 13 March. The strike concerns Lufthansa Passage, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa CityLine.
The programme unveiled by the company provides for 50% flights to be maintained on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 March. "For long-haul routes, this proportion rises to 60 %", boasts management.
"I regret this new call for strike action by the Vereinigung Cockpit," Michael Niggemann, Member of the Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG responsible for Human Resources and Legal Affairs, said on Wednesday. "This escalation is totally incomprehensible - all the more so at a time when we are facing an unprecedented level of geopolitical uncertainty with the war in Iran, and when passengers all over the world are being affected".
Nevertheless, the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) trade union has made it clear: "In view of the current situation in the Middle EastDeutsche Lufthansa AG and Lufthansa CityLine GmbH flights from Germany to the following destinations are expressly exempt from the strike: Egypt, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Lufthansa has launched an internal appeal to ensure that it is able to offer passengers a minimum service. In Germany, the airlines of the Lufthansa group - Discover Airlines and Lufthansa CityAirline - will operate their usual schedules and will take on additional flights where possible".
Lufthansa hopes to minimise the impact of the strike on its passengers. On the evening of the 11th, the airline published a special flight schedule for the two days of the strike. More than 50 % of the flight schedule initially planned can be operated on Thursday and Friday. For long-haul routes, the proportion is even 60 %.
Lufthansa assures that many flights to and from Frankfurt and Munich will be operated by other airlines of the group as well as by partner airlines. Larger aircraft will also be used during the strike days to accommodate more passengers. Lufthansa subsidiary City Airlines will operate all flights scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
As for its regional subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine, which is equipped with small aircraft, it should be able to operate almost its entire flight schedule only on Friday. But its aircraft remain grounded on 12 March.
