Lufthansa’s Pilot Strike Vote Could Ground Flights Soon

Lufthansa’s union of pilots, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC), has announced that a large majority of Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo pilots voted in favor of industrial action.

This development follows the conflict centered on company pension arrangements, which could disrupt operations in the coming weeks.

The strike mandate was determined in a mid-September ballot, which saw over 90 percent voter turnout, with approximately 88 percent of Lufthansa pilots and 96 percent of Lufthansa Cargo pilots supporting the strike.

No specific strike dates have been set, as the union’s bargaining committee has yet to determine the timing and scope of any industrial action.

The main issue in the dispute is the airline’s company pension scheme, which affects around 4,800 pilots. The same matter already triggered a wave of strikes in the past, between 2012 and 2016.

Vereinigung Cockpit has called for an increase in employer contributions, starting with a demand to triple the current rate. That request was gradually reduced after several negotiation rounds, and Lufthansa still rejected it as unaffordable.

This labor unrest follows multiple challenges for Lufthansa, including the recently announced plan to cut 4,000 administrative jobs by 2030, a move described as a necessary step to remain competitive.

On September 10, 2025, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was forced to cancel approximately 100 flights due to a two-hour strike by ground staff responsible for baggage handling, aircraft servicing, and customer assistance at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS).

Photo by David Syphers on Unsplash