Lufthansa pilots on strike. Photo: Shutterstock The association of airline pilots and flight engineers in Germany, the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has announced a new round of strikes targeting Lufthansa and several of its subsidiaries, once again raising the risk of widespread flight disruptions.
The new round of strikes, scheduled for Thursday and Friday (April 16-17, 2026), follows a 48-hour pilot strike on Monday and Tuesday that canceled hundreds of flights, as well as a 48-hour cabin crew strike on April 15-16 that is still in effect. The strikes follow the peak of the company's recent 100th anniversary celebrations.
The strike will affect operations at Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa CityLine from 00:01 on April 16 until 23:59 on April 17, 2026, with all departures from German airports during this period expected to be impacted.
At the same time, Eurowings will face its own strike on April 16, affecting all flights departing Germany throughout the day.
Despite the broad scope of the strike, Lufthansa has confirmed that flights from Germany to several destinations in the Middle East and surrounding regions will not be affected. These include routes to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Egypt and Jordan.
The exemption comes in light of the ongoing geopolitical situation in the region, which has already placed pressure on airline operations and connectivity.
Dispute remains unresolved
According to the union, the decision to escalate industrial action follows a continued deadlock in negotiations with airline management. Key issues include pension schemes and new collective agreements on pay and working conditions.
VC President Andreas Pinheiro said there has been “absolutely no movement on the part of the employers” across the group, leaving the union with little choice but to proceed with strike action.
In an effort to find a solution, the union is also considering entering a binding arbitration process, which would involve an independent mediator to help resolve the disputes.
“The situation is deadlocked,” Pinheiro noted, adding that arbitration could offer a structured path toward a long-term solution and prevent further escalation.
Airlines within the Lufthansa Group are expected to adjust schedules and cancel a significant number of flights during the strike period. Travelers are strongly advised to check the status of their flights in advance and monitor updates from their airline.
Further disruptions remain possible if negotiations fail to progress, with additional strike action not ruled out.
Lufthansa: "We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls, which may result in longer waiting times when contacting our service centers. For urgent requests, we kindly ask you to make use of the digital services mentioned above whenever possible."
"We sincerely regret the disruption caused by the strike announced at short notice by the unions Vereinigung Cockpit and UFO and thank you for your understanding.?