Lufthansa staff to strike on Friday, affecting 130,000 passengers
Disruption is expected at German and European airports this weekend after Lufthansa announced it is to cancel "almost all flights" in and out of Munich and Frankfurt on Friday due to strikes.
The carrier has confirmed it will have to cancel around 800 flights Friday, leaving over 130,000 passengers in the lurch after pay negotiations with the pilots' Vereinigung Cockpit union collapsed.
In short, if you were planning to fly with the German flag carrier later this week, you might want to reassess your itinerary. Even if you avoid the initial strike, which is due to start at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning and end at 11:59 p.m., there's likely to be further disruption as affected passengers are shifted onto services in the surrounding days.
A revised flight schedule may lead to further "individual cancellations or delays on Saturday and Sunday," warned a spokesperson for Lufthansa.
Lufthansa pilots voted in favor of striking during a ballot in early August, and unions warned the vote had sent "an unmistakable signal to Lufthansa to take the cockpit staff's needs seriously."
Indeed, Lufthansa's operations will come to a halt Friday as pilots stage a strike that will ground the majority of the airline's services across Germany.
Related: Winter is coming: Lufthansa latest airline to take an ax to seasonal schedule
Lufthansa has said the package pursued by union representatives would increase pilot personnel costs by 40% (over $895 million). Given the last-minute nature of the strike, it's fair to say this has been flatly rejected by airline bosses.
Don't expect any last-minute deals to be struck, though. Lufthansa leaders have bemoaned the union's decision to strike Friday, saying they had put forward a "very good offer" to increase a pilot's basic salary by $896 per month.
However, the European Cockpit Association, the union that represents European pilots, said it wasn't enough.
"Currently, we are too far apart. In addition to compensating for the loss of real wages, we now need above all a sustainable solution for the compensation structure in all occupational groups," said the union.
Vereinigung Cockpit, the German airline pilots' association, has been fighting for its members to receive a 5.5% wage increase by 2023, with any future earnings adjusted to any rising inflation.
At present, energy bills are skyrocketing across the continent at a rate not seen for decades. Inflation is also set to rise rapidly in Germany ahead of what is shaping up to be a winter of discontent for the airline.
Related: 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
Last week Lufthansa announced plans to cut an as-yet-unspecified number of flights from October 2022 through March 2023, predominantly affecting passengers flying from its Frankfurt Airport (FRA) base. The airline said it's taking these steps to "offer passengers a reliable and predictable flight schedule." The carrier said understaffing issues (both internally and at the airport) are the overriding reason for the cuts.
The latest bout of strike problems won't help customer confidence going into October and beyond.
If you do find yourself caught out by this week's strike action, keep calm and read up on these helpful hacks to use when your flight is canceled.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees