Overview
- Pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit and cabin crew union UFO staged a one-day strike on Feb 12, with pilots targeting all departures from German airports between 00:01 and 23:59, while group carriers such as Austrian Airlines, SWISS and Brussels Airlines were not affected.
- Lufthansa reported close to 800 cancellations disrupting about 100,000 passengers, though airport association ADV estimated more than 460 cancellations and roughly 69,000 affected.
- The airline is executing large-scale electronic rebookings and is offering free changes or refunds, with domestic tickets eligible for exchange to Deutsche Bahn rail services.
- Pilots are pressing for higher employer contributions to company and transitional pension schemes, and UFO is protesting job protections tied to the planned shutdown of CityLine.
- Lufthansa’s HR chief called the strike unnecessary and said the core airline lacks financial leeway during its turnaround, with a normal schedule expected to resume on Friday, Feb 13.