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Pilots from Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, CityLine, and Eurowings in Germany are set to strike on April 13 and 14. The industrial action stems from unresolved disagreements concerning the company's corporate pension programs, as announced by the German pilots' and flight engineers' union, Vereinigung Cockpit (VC).

Flight Disruptions and Exceptions

Eurowings flights departing from all German airports will be grounded on April 13. However, a notable exception will be made for flights operated by Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, and CityLine to the Middle East. Crews on these routes to Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE will not participate in the strike, citing the current geopolitical situation in the region.

Negotiations Stall

Andreas Pienitz, chairman of the VC union, stated that the employer's side was unwilling to find solutions for several labor disputes. Despite the union's decision to forgo a strike during the Easter holidays, no concrete proposals were put forth by the parties involved. According to VC, Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo failed to present proposals regarding pension programs, while CityLine did not offer a collective agreement. Eurowings' pension offer was deemed "unsatisfactory" and lacking substance.

Union's Stance and Call to Action

Pienitz described the strike as a "last resort" to break the deadlock in negotiations, placing responsibility on the employer. The union also urged its members to support a cabin crew rally planned for April 15 in front of the Lufthansa office at Frankfurt Airport. This follows a previous action by the UFO union on April 10, which led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

Lufthansa's Response

Lufthansa criticized the strike call, labeling it a "new level of escalation." The company described VC's primary demand – to double the already high pension program benefits – as "absurd and unachievable." This is not the first time pilots have taken industrial action over corporate pensions; a similar strike occurred in February 2026.

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