On the night of February 12, Lufthansa pilots and flight attendants began a simultaneous strike, which led to significant restrictions for passengers and large-scale flight cancellations in Germany. The airline promises to automatically notify passengers and offers free rebooking or other travel options.
This was reported by the German publication Tagesschau.
Pilots are striking at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo, and the Ufo flight attendant union has called for a warning strike by staff at the main Lufthansa company and its regional subsidiary Cityline. In addition to the Frankfurt and Munich hubs, the strike directly affected airports in Hamburg, Bremen, Stuttgart, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Hanover. The strike is expected to last until 11:59 p.m.
The pilots are demanding an increase in employer contributions to occupational and transitional pensions for approximately 4,800 employees. The Ufo union is insisting on negotiations on mandatory collective agreements with a social plan for Lufthansa and Cityline employees, as around 800 jobs are at risk.
The company did not specify the exact number of canceled flights, but reported large-scale cancellations. In general, the strike covers all departures from Germany, while Eurowings and Discover are not affected.
In the event of flight cancellations, passengers can rebook free of charge on connections not affected by the strike, and domestic flights can be replaced with train tickets. If flights are canceled or significantly delayed, airlines must pay compensation of between €250 and €600 and arrange alternative routes. Passengers who refuse to fly can get a refund for their ticket. In the event of a long wait, they are entitled to food, drinks, two free phone calls, and reimbursement of hotel expenses.