Lufthansa Pilot Strike Grounds Hundreds of Flights, Hits 1 Lakh Passengers

Lufthansa Pilot Strike Grounds Hundreds of Flights, Hits 1 Lakh Passengers

Berlin, Apr 12 (VoM News): German airline Lufthansa has cancelled hundreds of flights as its pilots began a two day strike from Monday, disrupting travel across Europe and affecting around 1 lakh passengers.

The strike, called by the Cockpit Union, started at 12:01 am local time on April 13 and is scheduled to continue until 11:59 pm on April 14.

Airline officials said nearly 800 flights have been cancelled, impacting both domestic and international routes. Major hubs including Frankfurt and Munich reported widespread disruptions, with long queues and last minute changes leaving passengers stranded.

Travellers have been advised to check their flight status before heading to airports, as uncertainty continues during the peak travel period.

The strike has been triggered by an ongoing dispute over pensions and working conditions. The pilots’ union said it was forced to act after failing to receive a satisfactory response from the airline during multiple rounds of negotiations.

“The Cockpit Union feels compelled to take this step after the employers showed no willingness to reach a solution,” the union said in a statement.

Union President Andreas Pinheiro said the pilots had avoided strike action during the Easter holidays in hope of progress, but no meaningful talks took place.

Pilots are demanding better retirement benefits and improved working conditions, arguing they have been overburdened since the post pandemic surge in travel while compensation has not kept pace.

Lufthansa, however, said it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement, keeping in mind economic conditions and competition in the aviation sector.

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Meanwhile, flights to certain destinations in the Middle East remain unaffected, even as the airline continues to manage disruptions across its wider network.

Negotiations between the airline and the union are expected to continue, but the immediate impact on passengers remains significant.