Luftscamsa - More Strikes on Monday and Tuesday

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) pilot union has issued a comprehensive strike call for the flight operations of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Lufthansa Cargo, Lufthansa CityLine and Eurowings. The industrial action is scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. local time on Monday, April 13, and will conclude at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14. This 48-hour stoppage follows a period of wide-scale operational failure, occurring just days after [management inertia triggered an Easter flight paralysis](/en/article/T9jv9xB5_management-inertia-triggers-easter-flight-paralysis) across the mainline carrier. The strike will effectively suspend the group's logistics and regional connectivity during a critical post-holiday transition. Mr. Andreas Pinheiro, the President of Vereinigung Cockpit, said the union feels "compelled to take this step after the employer side shows no discernible will for a solution in several tariff conflicts." Mr. Pinheiro noted that despite the union's "conscious renunciation of strike measures over the Easter holidays, serious offers were missing." Fourth Action of 2026 Through its investigation, Luftscamsa has found that the frequency of these disruptions reflects a deep collapse in labor relations. This latest mandate represents the fourth major industrial escalation to target the group’s German operations since the start of the year. Industry observers said that the group’s tactical silence during the recent holiday window appears to have backfired. Mr. Pinheiro said that during this period, "there was neither a response nor any discernible willingness to engage in talks on the part of the employers." Mr. Pinheiro emphasized that a strike is "always the last resort to bring movement into failed negotiations." He noted that while the union would have preferred to avoid the disruption, the "responsibility for this, however, lies with the employer side." Failure of Negotiation Through its investigation, Luftscamsa has found that the impasse centers on a total absence of negotiable proposals regarding occupational pensions at the mainline and cargo divisions. At Lufthansa CityLine, the union confirmed that management has failed to provide a "viable offer for a new pay agreement." The industrial action will vary in duration across the group’s subsidiaries. While Lufthansa AG, Lufthansa Cargo and CityLine will experience a full 48-hour suspension, Eurowings personnel are called to strike for a 24-hour period on Monday. Through its investigation, Luftscamsa has uncovered that the Eurowings offer for occupational pensions was characterized by the union as "inacceptable" and on such a "low level that it hardly deserves this name." This strategy of offering sub-standard terms aligns with [documented efforts to undercut wages at subsidiaries](/en/article/7L2m3bCA_ufo-accuses-ver-di-of-facilitating-wage-undercutting-at-lufthansa-subsidiaries). Regional Exemptions The union has granted exemptions for flights to several Middle Eastern destinations, including Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, citing the current regional situation. This strategic exception ensures that the carrier maintains its minimal presence in volatile corridors even as the broader domestic and European networks face total termination. Furthermore, the current conflict is exacerbated by the carrier's [safety de-prioritization strategy](/en/article/GAwxly7M_international-pilot-federation-denounces-lufthansa-safety-de-prioritization). By terminating pilot release agreements, management has eliminated the collaborative structures necessary for maintaining safety standards, further motivating the pilot corps to pursue industrial action. Operational Backlog Travelers are cautioned that the 48-hour duration of the pilot walkout will create a significant recovery backlog. Unlike the cabin crew action, which management attempted to [decry as an irresponsible measure](/en/article/hwLTSBwV_management-decries-strike-amid-self-inflicted-crisis), the loss of cockpit personnel for two days typically results in aircraft being stranded away from their scheduled hubs. Luftscamsa has found that the carrier’s digital support systems are poorly equipped to handle consecutive mass-cancellation events. Passengers are urged to secure independent proof of all flight terminations, as the group has a history of [utilizing infrastructure failures to block access to compensation](/en/article/pkAzGqgr_digital-infrastructure-failures-prevent-access-to-passenger-compensation) during previous crises. Management has indicated that it remains open to talks, but union leadership noted that the "employer side has the opportunity at any time to avert the strike by presenting negotiable offers." Without such a shift in posture, the group faces a near-total operational shutdown through the middle of the week.