Pilots of the German company Lufthansa will go on strike on Thursday due to a dispute over pensions, according to their union.
The call from the German pilots’ union Vereinigung Cockpit will affect flights of the Lufthansa brand and its cargo division Lufthansa Cargo, according to a union spokesperson on Tuesday.
Separately, the cabin crew union UFO announced in a separate statement that it has called on Lufthansa City Line employees to strike during the same period.
“A strong desire to avoid escalation”
The pilots’ union stated in an announcement that the strike “will affect all flights departing from German airports between 00:01 and 23:59 local time.”
It was confirmed that employees had “a strong desire to avoid escalation.” However, it was clarified that after union members voted for the strike in September, “we deliberately gave Lufthansa several months to find a solution.”
The pilots are demanding better retirement benefits, while Lufthansa insists it must cut costs to deal with its debts. The company announced in September that it would cut 4,000 jobs, equivalent to roughly four percent of its workforce.
Aircraft delivery delays and rising costs
Amid strikes, aircraft delivery delays, and rising costs, the company’s revenue fell by one-fifth in 2024, the last full year for which results are available, while profits lagged behind those of competing European companies.
It was reported that the UFO union is calling for the strike “in light of the announced closure of Lufthansa City Line flight operations and the company’s insistence on refusing to negotiate a collective social plan.”
Lufthansa announced a year ago that it would close Lufthansa City Line, with operations and staff to be transferred to a new subsidiary.
