Lufthansa Calls Thursday Pilots Strike an Unnecessary Escalation

• German pilots' union VC called a 24-hour strike affecting all flights departing from German airports on Thursday, with tens of thousands of passengers potentially impacted
• Lufthansa's HR head Michael Niggemann criticized the demands as excessive, stating the core airline 'simply has no financial leeway' amid ongoing cost-cutting efforts
• A separate strike by UFO flight attendants union at CityLine is also planned for Thursday over the planned shutdown of flight operations and lack of a collective social plan

Lufthansa Faces Thursday Strikes Over Pensions and Layoffs

Key Development: Germany's Lufthansa is bracing for a full-day strike on Thursday, February 11, affecting its core airline and cargo operations, as labor disputes intensify over cost-cutting measures.

Strike Details:

• German pilots' union VC has called a 24-hour walkout at Lufthansa's main airline and Lufthansa Cargo over pension benefits
• Separately, UFO flight attendants' union is striking at Lufthansa CityLine over planned shutdown of operations and failure to negotiate a collective social plan
• All flights departing from German airports on Thursday will be affected, potentially disrupting tens of thousands of passengers

Management Response:

Lufthansa's human resources head Michael Niggemann called the strike "completely unnecessary" and an unwarranted escalation. He emphasized that the core airline "simply has no financial leeway" to meet union demands, stating conflicts can only be resolved through negotiations.

Background:

The strike reflects ongoing tensions as Lufthansa pursues cost-cutting initiatives to improve profitability. Pilots voted in favor of strike action last year to pressure management for more generous retirement benefits. Talks have resumed but remain intermittent without concrete results.

Market Implications:

The labor action highlights operational risks facing legacy European carriers struggling with cost competitiveness. The dual strikes affecting both pilots and flight attendants signal deepening labor-management tensions that could lead to recurring disruptions and potential reputational damage. Investors should monitor whether this escalates into prolonged industrial action affecting Lufthansa's financial performance and service reliability during peak travel periods.