Lufthansa grounds hundreds of flights as pilots and cabin crew strike

Deutsche Lufthansa AG was forced to cancel hundreds of flights departing from German airports on February 12 after pilots and cabin crew launched a 24-hour strike over stalled contract negotiations.

The walkouts began at 12:01 a.m. local time and are set to continue until 11:59 p.m., disrupting both passenger and cargo operations, according to foreign media.

The industrial action comes just one day before world leaders are due to arrive in Germany for the Munich Security Conference.

While Lufthansa warned of “extensive flight cancellations,” the airline did not release precise figures, citing what it described as a “continuously evolving situation.” The German Airports Association, however, estimated that more than 460 flights would be cancelled, directly affecting approximately 69,000 passengers.

In an effort to mitigate the disruption, Lufthansa said it is rebooking travellers on other airlines within its group, including Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, and Swiss. Passengers are also being offered the option to exchange their tickets for rail travel with Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway operator.

This marks the first pilots’ strike at Lufthansa since 2022. According to Morgan Stanley analysts led by Axel Stasse, the broader impact of the stoppage could ultimately affect more than 140,000 seats, with a potential revenue loss of around €27 million ($32 million).

The strike follows unsuccessful negotiations between Lufthansa and the pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit regarding the financing of retirement pensions. Separate talks with the UFO union representing cabin crew also broke down over a new collective working agreement.

The labour unrest comes at a sensitive time for Europe’s largest aviation group, which is under increasing pressure to improve profitability in a highly competitive market. Lufthansa continues to grapple with multiple operational and structural challenges, including delays in aircraft deliveries, elevated taxes and airport fees, and difficulties surrounding the rollout of its premium Allegris cabin concept.

Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr has introduced a strategy aimed at boosting margins, including consolidating operations among hub airlines and eliminating 4,000 administrative positions.

At the same time, Lufthansa’s core flagship carrier is burdened with significantly higher crew costs compared with newer subsidiaries such as City Airlines and Discover, where labour expenses are up to 40 per cent lower. As a result, the group is reallocating a larger share of its short-haul fleet away from the mainline airline to these lower-cost units.