Vereinigung Cockpit announces fresh Lufthansa strikes, seeks talks
Pilots’ union plans strikes at Lufthansa Group airlines, proposes arbitration amid stalled talks on pay and pensions.
The pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit has announced further strikes at Deutsche Lufthansa AG and its subsidiaries, while also proposing arbitration to resolve the ongoing labour disputes.
The new strike action will affect flights operated by Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo AG and Lufthansa CityLine GmbH from German airports between April 16 and April 17, 2026. Flights operated by Eurowings GmbH will be affected on April 16 only.
According to the union, certain routes to destinations in the Middle East will be exempt from the strike due to the current regional situation.
Vereinigung Cockpit said there has been no progress in negotiations with employers. The union stated that there is still no offer on company pension schemes for Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo, no viable salary agreement proposal for Lufthansa CityLine, and no pension offer for Eurowings.
Against this backdrop, the union has proposed a binding arbitration process to resolve the disputes. It said the situation remains deadlocked and that arbitration by an independent third party could help reach a sustainable solution and prevent further escalation.
The union added that its objective is not to engage in power struggles, but to find workable and lasting solutions. If the employers accept the proposal, Vereinigung Cockpit said it will quickly suggest candidates to act as arbitrators.
