Overview
- The pilot union and Lufthansa agreed to combined Schlichtung procedures and an overarching mediation on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, to settle tariff talks across Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa Cityline and Eurowings.
- Vereinigung Cockpit nominated Bodo Ramelow as the union's Schlichter while Lufthansa named Roland Koch and labour lawyer Günther Heckelmann for specific units, and Ramelow said he will waive his fee and donate it to aviation education projects.
- A central issue for roughly 5,000 pilots is higher employer contributions to the company pension scheme, which the union has put at the heart of bargaining.
- VC survey results show 70% of pilots would follow a strike call without hesitation and the union has staged strikes on seven days this year, with Lufthansa estimating the dispute has already cost about €150 million.
- Beyond immediate pay and pensions, talks aim to address a company strategy of moving aircraft and crews to units with lower collective conditions, a structural issue that could determine whether industrial pressure eases or returns.