Lufthansa is preparing for another wave of severe travel disruption as its cabin crew union, UFO, has called for a two-day strike later this week. The industrial action is set to impact all departures from Frankfurt and Munich on Wednesday and Thursday, leading to the cancellation of hundreds more flights and leaving passengers stranded across Germany.
Escalating Industrial Action
This latest strike announcement follows a cabin crew walkout last Friday and an ongoing pilots' strike, which has already caused significant cancellations. Pilots are striking on Monday and Tuesday, affecting tens of thousands of travellers. The union cited a deadlock in collective bargaining as the reason for the escalation, stating that employers have shown insufficient movement in negotiations.
Passenger Impact and Airport Chaos
Last Friday's cabin crew strike resulted in approximately 580 flight cancellations at Frankfurt Airport alone by Friday morning, according to airport operator Fraport. Around 72,000 passengers across Germany endured major travel disruptions. Munich, another critical Lufthansa hub, was also severely affected, while CityLine cabin crew walked out at nine airports nationwide.
Management Criticism and Union Stance
In response to the strike plans, Lufthansa board member Michael Niggemann criticised the UFO union, accusing it of being completely indifferent to passenger welfare and the airline's future. Lufthansa brand chief Jens Ritter described the widespread industrial action as completely disproportionate. However, UFO negotiators maintained that escalation was inevitable given the stalled talks.
Contrast with Lufthansa City Airlines
The strike stands in sharp contrast to developments at Lufthansa City Airlines, the group's newest subsidiary. The rival union Verdi successfully secured the carrier's first collective wage agreement covering 500 cockpit and cabin staff after marathon talks last week.
Details of the City Airlines Agreement
The deal includes a significant salary increase of between 20 percent and 35 percent in three stages through March 2029. It also provides extra days off, more vacation time, improved roster planning, and expanded pension support. This agreement highlights the diverging fortunes within the Lufthansa Group as it undergoes broader restructuring.
Restructuring and Future Plans
Lufthansa operates long-haul and major European routes through its mainline airline, while short-haul feeder flights have historically been handled by CityLine. The group plans to close CityLine by year-end, transitioning feeder operations to the more cost-efficient City Airlines, which was founded in 2022. This closure has sparked anger among CityLine staff, who fear job losses and uncertain futures amid growing competitive pressures in Europe's aviation industry.
